AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The job isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”
“You already mentioned that. How much does it pay?”
He slid a folder across the table to me. I picked it up, flipping it open. My eyes widened in shock when I saw my brother’s file staring back at me. It was a very detailed outline of his life. He hadn’t lived a life on the straight and narrow. He was more of a winding roads kind of guy, and he ended up in a lot of trouble. I was able to stay out of the limelight for most of my career, but Kevin had run with the wrong crowd and got thrown in prison on his last job.
“What about him?”
“I can get him out.”
It was tempting, but what kind of life would he lead after that? “You want to break him out so he can live in hiding the rest of his life? That doesn’t sound very good to me.”
His lips twitched in amusement. “I wouldn’t be breaking him out. I have acquaintances who can secure his release. Legally.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Who are you?”
“Don’t you think you should have asked that before?”
“I didn’t care before. A job is a job until you start dragging my family into the equation.”
He leaned forward again, the dim light from the bulb detailing his handsome features. He was good-looking enough, but not someone I would want to get into bed with—literally or figuratively. There was an underlying threat in his expression—something I only saw with the most dangerous of men. It sent chills down my spine and warning bells went off in my head that I should walk away.
“You can call me Rafe.”
“Is that what all your friends call you?”
“I wouldn’t know. That would require me to have some.”
I could walk away right now and forget I ever knew him, but somehow, I knew this man wouldn’t stop just because I said no. Apparently, I had done my job a little too well, and now he was willing to call in favors to keep me on his payroll. It was tempting.
“What kind of man has acquaintances who have the leverage to do something like this?” I asked, holding up my brother’s folder. “He’s in for twenty years.”
“A man who used to be one of them.”
I barked out a laugh. “You were a G man?”
“A Fed. I was maybe a little too good at my job.”
“So, they fired you?” I asked, my hand sliding over to the end of the table. I quickly reorganized the salt and pepper, making sure the salt was on the left side. Then, I moved on to the condiments tray, making sure all the labels were facing forward.
“No, I went out on my own. Pesky things like laws kept getting in my way. Are we through with the questions?”
“Not even a little.”
“I’m not answering any more.”
“Then I guess our business is complete.”
I went to stand when his hand shot out again and squeezed harder this time. “When was the last time you saw your brother?”
My breath hitched as I remembered his final court appearance. “The day they sentenced him.”
“Then you must not realize what life is like for him inside. Perhaps you want to think about that.”
“Rafe…” I said, letting the name sink in. “I don’t want my brother to suffer in prison, but if you’re not willing to tell me a little bit about what I’m getting into, I’m not willing to risk my neck or my brother’s. So, are you going to tell me or am I walking?”
The way he stared at me, I wasn’t sure he was going to answer my questions, but then he leaned back in his seat. “What do you want to know?”
“You used to be a Fed. How do I know you’re not setting me up?”
