Page 43 of A Life Imagined
“No…” Rayan searched for the right words.“Finding creative workarounds.”
“I believe the term isbreaking the law.And yes, I’ve made quite a career of that.”Mathias turned on the wipers as a splatter of rain speckled the windshield.“You think stroking my ego will make me forget about the idiotic wild-goose chase we’re on?”
“It wouldn’t be the first.”
Mathias smirked.“No, it wouldn’t.”
“Tony always seemed to kick the real stinkers our way.”
“No surprises there.That man was happiest when he had me knee-deep in muck.”
Rayan grinned at the memory of standing outside Tony’s office, raised voices traveling down the corridor, as Mathias and the Collections boss engaged in yet another clash of wills.“It feels like a lifetime ago.Hard to believe he’s gone.”
Mathias said nothing.Rayan knew a part of him was still sore about the circumstances surrounding Tony’s death.
“He looked out for you, you know,” Rayan said.“I overheard him a few times at Le Rouge, dressing down some of the old guard when they started talking shit.”
Mathias’s expression grew reflective.“I owed him more than I realized.”
“I’m pretty sure he knew that.”
“Of course he did.”Mathias’s mouth tweaked.“He’d have used anything to hold over me.”
“It was his way of keeping you in line.Not much else seemed to work.”
Mathias gave a snort and caught his eye, their shared past glancing between them.“Look at you, Rayan.So perceptive.”
After eleven hours of driving, Mathias hit a wall.They’d just passed the German city of Cottbus when he exhaled heavily and flicked on his turn signal, guiding the truck toward a nearby exit.“We’re done for the day.”
Rayan shared the man’s sentiment.His whole body felt stiff, and he was desperate to stretch his legs.Mathias pulled into an unassuming motel a short distance from the highway and parked in the deserted lot.They would spend the night here and make the crossing into Poland the following morning.
While Mathias went to pick up keys at the front desk, Rayan walked to the gas station across the road for coffee and cigarettes.It paid to be preemptive with Mathias.There was a glass case of hot food by the register, and Rayan took a carton and filled it with exotic convenience store delicacies.
Back at the room, Mathias eyed his selection warily.
“I think that’s schnitzel,” Rayan offered.
“It could be horse meat for all I care,” Mathias muttered.
After they’d eaten, Rayan sat behind Mathias on the bed, working out the knots in the man’s back.“I’ll drive tomorrow.”
“No,” Mathias said.“I want to make the crossing.”
“You don’t think I can handle it?”
Mathias tilted his chin to look at him.“You’re a useless liar.You’ll be spilling your guts before the border guard even opens his mouth.”
Rayan jabbed his thumbs into the muscle below Mathias’s shoulder blades and was rewarded with a sharp grunt.“I’m an excellent liar.”
Mathias chuckled.“See?Useless.”
Rayan smiled despite himself and slid his fingers to the nape of Mathias’s neck, gentle this time.His touch elicited the slightest of shivers.There was a line Mathias walked carefully—the division between resistance and submission.Sometimes, while Rayan had the man in his mouth, Mathias permitted him to move his hand lower.Then, just as quickly, Mathias would pull away, the flicker of something indeterminable in his eyes.
Rayan dropped his hands and pressed his lips to the warm skin behind Mathias’s ear, leaving a trail of kisses.“Walk me through tomorrow.”
Belkov’s contact had arranged for the local Lobuzi head to meet Mathias outside a small town near Poland’s eastern border.From there, they would determine whether the group had taken Farhan.
“We cross into Poland, make our way to Korczowa, and then find Zabawski.If he has your friend, we load him up and get the fuck out of there.”
