Page 16 of Darkness and Duress

Still, the quiet persisted. Like Jericho, Marco’s eyes kept flicking toward the rear view mirror. It took a lot of work, but I somehow managed to keep my expression unrevealing and my gaze locked on the mirror to catch every stolen glance. Sure, I wasn't about to mouth off, but I wanted him toknowI knew. I needed him to know. His obvious discomfort as he squirmed in the front seat had me smothering a smirk.

After the longest and most awkward drive in the history of automobiles existing, we finally made it to New Jersey and the uncomfortably vacant shipping yard Marco was intent on visiting. I probably should have asked where we were going and why before I let him manhandle me out of the seat. Not that I let him, but that was neither here nor there.

“Since you’re both going to act like the leads in a bully romance, I guess I'll be the adult here for a second—what’s the deal, boss?” Jericho glanced toward Marco, looking wholly unimpressed with the entire situation.

“Mngh,” Marco grunted, sucking his teeth before he continued. “Welcome to the inner circle, I guess. There’s a group of men in there with a duffel bag of handguns. I have an envelope containing a hundred thousand dollars in my back pocket. Do the math.” He jerked his chin toward one of the warehouses about fifty paces away.

“Fuck me sideways,” I muttered, leaning back in my seat to push my hands through my hair.

“No, you’d like that too much.” Jer winked at me before examining the building in the distance. “So what's the game plan?”

“We get out, meet them halfway, exchange the goods. And then we bounce.” Marco turned to make eye contact directly for the first time since our scuffle. “You good with grabbing the bag?Jericho can take the flank and watch for any movement in their lackeys.”

“Shit. I guess.” I pointed at his face with an index finger. “Clean your lip up. You look like a wreck.”

“Fuck you.”

“You wish.”

His eyes snapped toward me with that same expression I was coming to expect to find. Fear. Marco d’Ambrosio was afraid of me and the things he was feeling because of me. I should have reveled in the power it gave me. Except I couldn't.

Turns out I was just as scared.

Chapter Nine

Marco

My brain was in a blender as I climbed out of the car and strode toward the warehouse. Definitely not the right mindset to be in when coming face to face with arms dealers in preparation for trading a wad of money for a bag full of retooled firearms. Pops would have flipped his lid if he had known I insisted on driving, but I needed to keep some sort of control when my mind was full of such pandemonium.

It was a mistake bringing Henny and Jericho along, too. It had been a rough couple days as I battled the tendrils of darkness creeping into my mind. Recollections of him in my apartment were the only bright spot as I tried to reconcile everything Gian had told me while also dealing with my father’s stress and unrelenting insistence that I step up and handle these jobs. Needless to say, I was on shaky ground and the last thing I needed was my body's betrayal. I wasn't gay. I didn't seek out men on a regular basis for sex. I never even indulged in sexual fantasies about men. But one brief fisticuffs in the garage had certainly gotten my cock’s attention. I didn't need this shit.

“Jesus, wait up.” A hand seized around my bicep and the unexpected touch instantly triggered my fight response. I whirled around with my fist cocked back and only stopped myself at the last moment as Henny’s eyes widened in fear.

“Don’t touch me.” I shook my hands out with a shaky exhale. “Don't. I can't handle it.”

“I get it.” Despite my warning, he stepped closer and rested a palm over my pounding heart. “I get that it's a lot. Running head first into a potential death trap is not the way to process it, though.”

“Don't touch.” I grabbed his wrist and pushed it away. “Please, Bran?”

I kicked myself for how easily the plea and the diminutive of his name fell from my lips. I hated myself for how desperate I sounded. I loathed the look of pity on his face.

“Yeah. I got you.” He let his arm fall to his side and searched my face. It terrified me to think of what he’d find there.

Clearing his throat, Jericho approached and nodded toward the building. “Sorry to interrupt you two, but we have company.”

I cursed under my breath and turned back toward the target. This was exactly why it was a bad idea bringing him along. This was a distraction I didn't need. I resumed my striding gait and met the men halfway. Again numbered two to one, I kept my head high and my stance confident. It was all a show. I felt the farthest from confident.

“Ahh, welcome!” The tallest of the group stepped forward, his hand outstretched to shake. “I'd invite you for a drink, but we’re very busy. Did you bring the money?”

I used every ounce of resolve not to break the greasy haired, beetle-eyed fucker’s hand when he refused to let go. I nodded with a faint grunt as I indicated one of his associates nearby. “That them?”

“Indeed. Easy as pie, no funny business.” He let go and motioned the man forward. Henny, thankfully serious for once, stepped up at the same time.

My heart was in my throat as I reached slowly to my back pocket while announcing what I was doing. Everyone tensed until the envelope became visible. Once I held it out, the man in front of me snatched it from my grasp and immediately opened it for a visual inspection. He knew better than to count it in front of me, just like I knew better than to pinch a few bills from the bundle. For all the rumors about how degenerate organized crime members were, there were rules even we didn't break.

With a clipped nod to his partner, the envelope disappeared into a coat pocket and the bag swung into Henny’s grip. I could tell it was heavy as fuck by the way his frame briefly sagged with the unexpected burden. We nodded to one another and the men around us turned to disappear, mine included. With one last handshake, it was our turn to part. I didn't know this man from any stranger on the street, but I knew instinctually in that moment that neither of us were eager to turn our back first. By unspoken agreement and a code of honor that dated back more generations than I could count, we turned at the same time. I didn't look back. I'd bet a lot of money on the fact that he didn't either. Only once I was finally back in the driver’s seat did I chance a glance at the warehouse, just in time to see the door close.

We exhaled a collective sigh of relief as I put the car in reverse and eased out of the shipping yard. I clocked at least four different security cameras on the way. Knowing that we'd be doing a lot more exchanges here in the future, I made a mental note to do more recon. For every camera I spied, I expected there were at least two more I couldn't see.

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