Page 83 of The Carver

Bastien

I walked down the line and examined the containers of drugs, properly sealed so they could pass the border check inconspicuously. I picked one at random and set it on the scale to check the weight. It matched the amount on the sheet, so I knew no one was skimming anything. I returned it to the line and nodded to Horace. “Get it ready for shipment.” I moved back to the table where the laptop was open. “Let’s do the transfer.” I logged in to the encrypted account and then turned the laptop toward Scott.

He entered the information and the total and then sent it before he slid the laptop back to me.

I checked that the cash was there and then turned it back to him so he could make his second payment. I didn’t wait for the government to pay me out of their tariffs because I took my own. A lot of people didn’t like it, but that was too fucking bad.

My phone rang in my pocket, and I checked it right away in case Fleur needed me.

It was Adrien.

I shoved my phone back into my pocket and ignored him.

Scott pushed the laptop back to me. “We’re done here.”

“Luca will meet you at the warehouse and take over the shipment.” Luca got the international product to the docks so we could ship it to the Middle East and Asia. It was a whole enterprise, and it wouldn’t be possible without the cooperation of our government.

My phone rang again, and I checked it.

It was Adrien—again.

“Asshole.” I shoved it back into my pocket. Shit had probably gone down with Oscar, and now he wanted my help.

Nope. He was on his own.

I left the table and passed the line of workers who continued to process the batch of drugs that would go out in the next shipment in five days. When I’d arrived, it wasn’t raining, but when I headed back to the vehicle, it was pouring. I walked through the rain and felt my shirt grow damp before I got into the back seat.

My phone vibrated with a message.

I pulled it out and looked at the screen, hoping it was Fleur even though it wouldn’t be, not when she would be asleep at her apartment.

It was Adrien.

He has Fleur

He’s gonna kill her

Fucking help me

Call me

These messages were popping up nonstop.

The alarm that shot through me was like an explosion inside my chest. My heart and lungs were ripped to pieces. I didn’t understand the words, even though his message was clear. I didn’t scream or shout, turned eerily calm like I always did when shit got serious. I called him and put the phone to my ear. “Head to Adrien’s,” I told the driver.

Adrien picked up right away. “Oscar said he’s going to bury her alive. I don’t know where he took her. He left a phone with a camera that shows her in a coffin.”

“Where?”

“I—I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me?—”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know. He left.”

I hung up and called Oscar.

It rang and rang and rang. “Pick up, asshole.” It went to voice mail. I immediately called again, but all it did was ring.

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