Page 70 of Bad Rio

When she handed it over, he turned it on and ignored everything except a message from Harrison. The voice commanded,Check in, Lang. Now.

Sure, Rio would check in, but this time he’d be the one getting answers.

He insisted on driving the Vespa, and when Becca wanted to go with him in the hunt to find cell service, he didn’t see a problem. Although the mild weather barely required it, they put on their coats, and headed out. Because of his injury, he drove slowly, avoiding as many ruts and rocks as possible. Mindful of his bandaged wound, Becca clung to him with care. He could tell she was being solicitous and he appreciated that. He appreciated most everything about her.

It was a sign of his improving health, but he relished the feel of her full, fabulous breasts pressed to his back. With her legs spread across the Vespa seat and snug against his rear, her position put him in mind of her warm sex, and how unbelievably good it felt to take her. He didn’t think he’d ever before enjoyed a woman’s cries of pleasure so much. The luscious memory of the oral pleasure she’d given him had blown his mind.

Predictably, he felt himself harden. While he was pleased at his body’s return to normality, he greatly regretted they had no time to pull over so he could pay her the proper attention she deserved. A shame. He’d have to make up for it. Soon.

The rough travel took its toll, and by the time they’d ridden down the mountainside, over back roads, and found reception, his side was burning and his mood had soured.

Pulling the Vespa off the asphalt road, he drove a few dozen yards into the trees and left Becca with the scooter. Some distance away, he found a tree stump, sat on its top, and made the call.

Harrison answered on the first ring. “Lang, where the fuck have you been? I’ve called three—”

“This time I’ll ask the questions. First, I want to know who put the hit on me?”

“What hit? There is none. What are you talkin—”

“The guy shooting at me a few days ago was lying in wait. That’s just not nice. Now, what’s the truth?”

“Are you suggesting I sent someone to take you out? It didn’t happen. Now, listen. I left your pay for the Rebecca De Monte hostage grab at the usual drop location. Pick it up when you can. Meanwhile, Rebecca’s gone missing again.” He paused as if thinking. “Do you have her?”

“Why would I have her?” Rio prevaricated. “I fulfilled the contract, took her back home in one piece.”

Harrison sighed. “All right. Where are you?”

“That doesn’t matter,” Rio said. “Why don’t you level with me? Tell me what’s really going on.”

“I need you to come in.” Harrison said it impatiently. He sounded agitated. “I’ll brief you on a new contract. It’s a job requiring your special skills.”Coming inmeant Rio should travel to a pre-determined location for a face-to-face meeting with Harrison.

“Come in? Why is that necessary?” It never was before. In fact, they’d never met in person. “Just email me the details.”

“Lang, don’t give me shit. You have to—”

“Sorry, you’re breaking up. I’m losing the connection. Get back to you later.” With that, he ended the call, opened the phone’s back cover and removed the battery. He’d learned enough. Swiveling his upper body to throw it like a baseball into the forest, the sudden pain in his side made him decide instead to underhand it away.

Finding a good-sized rock, he set the phone case down, grabbed another rock and smashed it. The broken parts fell into the weeds.

Becca approached. “Boy, you must really hate that phone.”

Rio wanted to smile at her attempt at humor, but his thoughts were too dark. “I’ve had a bad feeling about our situation,” he told her, “and I don’t want to be tracked by my phone. I knew this was bigger than I first thought. Now, new angles are coming into play.”

“What does that mean?” She sobered.

“What’s the connection?” He asked the question aloud, not expecting an answer. “To you, to your uncle and dad’s dirty business, and now ... to me? It’s a triangle that makes no sense.”

She raised her palms.

“Give me your phone.” He held out a hand.

“Don’t break it,” she said, alarmed.

“No, I’ll just take the battery out. Nobody should know where we are.”

“Oh,” she said.

Clearly she didn’t know that a person could be tracked by his phone, even if it were turned off.

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