Page 10 of Forbidden Fruit

The rest of my shift passed in a blur, my mind elsewhere as I went through the motions of serving drinks and pretending everything was fine. But inside, I was falling apart, the weight of Johnny’s threats pressing down on me like a vise.

As soon as I was off, I texted Burt and got the thumbs-up to pay him a visit at his temporary worksite. After receiving the address, I made a beeline for my car, my heart pounding as I fumbled with my keys. I needed to talk to Burt, needed to tell him about Maxwell’s secret office, about everything I’d seen. Maybe if I could prove to him that I was still valuable, that I was still useful, he’d help me with Johnny. Maybe he’d protect me. And then I could figure out what to do about Maxwell after that.

The drive to the nondescript building where Burt’s temporary office was located felt like it took forever. My hands were shaking as I parked and made my way inside, my mind racing with a million different thoughts. What if Burt couldn’t help me? What if he turned me away? I didn’t know what I would do then. I was running out of options, running out of time.

When I finally reached the suite, I knocked on the door, trying to steady my breathing. A moment later, the door swung open, and the smooth-talking agent stood there, looking as calm and composed as ever.

“Raya,” he said, his voice low and measured. “Come in.”

I stepped inside, feeling the chill of the sterile, windowless room. Burt’s makeshift desk was cluttered with papers and folders. An open laptop sat on top, its screensaver displaying colorful bubbles that floated across a black background as though a child had just blown them from a fairy wand. He gestured for me to sit, and I did, my nerves on edge.

“What brings you here tonight?” he asked, settling into his chair and leaning back, his sharp eyes studying me.

“I found something,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “In Maxwell’s estate. A secret office. There were documents, photos, all kinds of things. I couldn’t get pictures, but I saw it all.”

Burt’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of interest passing over his face, and he scratched the stubble on his chin. “A secret office, you say? Interesting. Tell me more.”

I hesitated, trying to remember everything I’d seen. “There were files, documents with names and numbers. It looked like some kind of ledger. There were photos too—of people, places. I couldn’t make sense of all of it, to tell you the truth.”

Burt leaned forward, his fingers steepled in front of him. “And you didn’t get any camera shots?”

“No,” I admitted, shame creeping into my voice. “I didn’t have my phone with me.”

Burt studied me for a long moment, and I could feel his disappointment, even though he didn’t say anything. Finally, he nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “You did well, Raya. Very well. This is valuable information. We’ll look into it.”

Relief flooded through me, but it was short-lived. I still had to deal with Johnny, and I didn’t know how to bring it up to Burt without sounding desperate.

“Burt,” I began, my voice hesitant. “There’s something else. Something personal.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “My ex-boyfriend, Johnny Gabino, he found me. He showed up at Sweet Cocktails tonight. He’s threatening to go to the press, to expose my past unless I give him money.”

Burt’s expression hardened, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind. “Johnny’s in town? That wasn’t part of the deal.”

I gasped. “What deal? Wait, was he the one who told you about me?”

Burt glanced away briefly before meeting my eyes again. “I had to know who you were to make sure you’d cooperate with our mission. But showing up was against the rules.”

I nodded, my throat tight. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t let him ruin everything I’ve worked for. I can’t let him go to the press.”

Burt was silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he considered my words. Finally, he nodded. “I’ll see what I can do. But remember, Raya, Maxwell is no fool, and neither is Johnny. You need to be careful. Very careful.”

I nodded, the weight of his words settling over me like a heavy blanket. I knew he was right. I was in way over my head, and if I wasn’t careful, I was going to drown.

“I understand,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Burt leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. “Good. Now go home, get some rest. We’ll deal with Johnny, and we’ll keep an eye on Maxwell. But you need to stay focused, Raya. Don’t let your emotions get the better of you.”

I nodded again, feeling a mix of relief and dread. I was grateful for the FBI agent’s help, but I knew that this was far from over. Johnny was still out there, lurking, and Maxwell…Maxwell was a whole other problem. One I was no longer sure I could handle.

***

The next morning, I woke up with a heavy sense of dread, knowing I had to face the reality of what had happened the night before. I’d hardly slept, my mind racing with thoughts of Johnny, Burt, and Maxwell.

I forced myself to get out of bed, dragging my feet as I made my way to the bathroom. I turned on the TV in my bedroom, hoping the background noise would distract me from my thoughts. But as I was brushing my teeth, something on the news caught my attention.

“...a fatal accident on Highway 13 late last night. Authorities say a vehicle drove off a cliff into a ravine, the driver pronounced dead on impact. The victim has been identified as John Gabino from Texas…”

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