Page 13 of Escape You

“Hear me out. Without Rossi’s backing, Marcel would have to retreat and find another way in. It’s not ideal, but it would at least buy us some time until we figure out how to dismantle his operation.” I glanced at Rebecca. She seemed so alone. My brothers and I were all she had left. She trusted us. I couldn’t let her down. I needed to go back to New York, find a way to get close to Rossi, and bring him down. “I’ll go back to my superiors and make them see. I won’t stop until the FBI does the right thing.”

My phone buzzed in my jacket. As if we’d summoned Mavell, a text appeared on the screen saying I’d been assigned to a case and to report to the New York field office in three days’ time. I showed Rebecca the message. “You see this? They want me back in New York. It isn’t over yet.”

She offered me a sad smile. “Okay, but I need to leave the country. Marcel’s men are looking for me. I know it. It’s only a matter of time before they track me down again.”

“We’ll figure that out. Don’t worry. For now, Derek said you can stay in this house. You’ll be safe as long as you don’t leave the grounds. Wesley will look after you. Would you wait until I sort things out in New York?”

“Where else am I gonna go? I’ll be here. Tyler, promise me Marcel won’t get away with this.”

“You have my word.”

* * *

The following week, I sat in the New York field office, expecting the worse and hoping for the best. Had the bureau finally figured out that the Venezuelan cartel was planning to expand their dealings with the help of the New York faction?

“Tyler, this way please.” Mavell gestured for me to follow. We took the elevator to the lower level, then walked across the long hallway to a small conference room.

I sat and ogled the piles of manila folders on the table. Some files were so old the ink on the paper had almost been smudged off. My heartbeat spiked when I read the label on the front: New York Faction, 1985-Present.

“The FBI conceded?”

“You know they don’t do that. They’re asking for you.”

“Why?”

“Only one reason.” He dropped an eight-by-ten photo on top of the pile. I glared at the asshole staring back at me in the image. He was about my age, dark hair, blue eyes. Were they serious about this?

“He doesn’t look like me.”

Mavell shrugged. “He does. Plus, Rossi hasn’t seen his grandson in over fifteen years. All you need to do is play the prodigal son and earn his trust. We already set up a meet with him.”

“This is Rossi’s grandson?”

“Yes. His mom reached out to Rossi a year ago. Apparently, her husband, Rossi’s son, had died and she needed money. Chase Rossi, the grandson, was much like his own dad. He never wanted anything to do with the Rossi family or their dirty money. It’ll be easy for you to take over his identity.”

“Why not get this Chase to cooperate?”

Leave it to the FBI to give me exactly what I wanted but at a really high price. Rossi was a dangerous man. If I failed, if I was found, he’d shoot me without giving it a second thought.

“He OD’d three days ago. That’s why I texted you and asked you to be here today. Trust me, we’ve worked out all the scenarios available to us. You’re our best shot. This is a rare opportunity. Our agents were on site when he passed and were able to contain the situation. We get to bring in one of our own into the lion’s den.”

“The FBI happened to be there at the right time and the right place? How coincidental.”

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”

This was stupid lucky. An undercover assignment with the New York faction, just as I wanted. Granted, they were not sending me there to look into Rebecca’s situation with the Venezuelans, but they weren’t telling me not to meddle either. The adrenaline buzzed through me. Rebecca would get peace of mind, justice, after all. Rebecca and all those people affected by all this.

“Why are you hesitating? I thought this is what you wanted? I already vouched for you. Don’t let me down now.”

“The FBI joining forces with the ATF. How about that?” I smirked at him.

“They only agreed because of the resemblance between you and Chase. They’re not exactly happy about the arrangement, but their options were limited.” He shrugged. “Are you in? Say yes quickly because they do have one other guy who could take your place. You owe me big.”

Mavell had come through for me. “What’s in it for you?”

“I get to do my job while the FBI foots the bill.” He beamed at me.

“What? Is Rossi looking to deal arms now?”

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