Page 24 of Giovanni's Obsession

Hearing leaves move in a branch, I look up to find its source. Two squirrels are playing chase across the branches and a bird close by chirps its song for all to hear.

Laying back on the ground, I close my eyes listening to the woods around me. All the birds singing their beautiful songs in the wind, relaxes me even more.

I must drift off because I wake up to Gio kneeling beside me, staring intently.

Giovanni

“What the fuck do you mean? You really want me to just hand her over to them?” I growl through the phone.

“That is what headquarters has said. Yes.” Quinn says like a robot that is parroting what he was told.

I know how this works but I also know Quinn. According to the rules, I shouldn’t know him but I’m a rebellious fuck. You tell me I can’t and I’ll do it anyway.

Quinn and I have become really good friends over the years but only so long as we can hide our acquaintance from the company.

Knowing that our conversations on this line are always monitored, I give the response that I know they want to hear but will signal to Quinn to contact me from an untraceable line.

“I understand. I’ll contact you when it’s done.” I answer, hanging up immediately.

I pace around in a circle for nearly thirty minutes before my phone rings again. I pick it up immediately knowing that it’s Quinn.

“Tell me.” I order.

“The reason the FBI has yet to be able to pin anything on Mendez is because there’s a certain Senator that makes everything go away. That Senator has called the higher ups in the company demanding that you hand her back to Mendez.” Quinn talks quickly.

“And the Senator is?” I ask even though I know the answer.

“The same Senator that keeps the company from being shut down.” He whispers.

“Wellington.” I state out loud.

“Exactly. If I get anything more for you, I’ll be in touch.” He says, hanging up the phone.

“Fuck!” I say loudly, pinching the bridge of my nose.

This is not good. Not good at all. Needing time to think it over some more, I put my phone back into my pocket and go in search of Raven.

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