Part 9 (1/2)
”Lansing,” a deep voice called out, interrupting my sweet dreams.
Why couldn't they just shut the f.u.c.k up and let a man get an ounce of sleep?
”Lansing!” the voiced yelled again, fully breaking me away from the happy place I'd allowed myself to go.
”What?” I said, not bothering to open my eyes.
”Get up. Let's go.”
I looked over at the kid in the next bunk and sighed. ”Good luck, kid.” Then I cracked my neck, stretching the soreness from my muscles. Turning, I saw that James was the one waiting for me. ”Can I p.i.s.s first?”
”No. Stop stalling and get your a.s.s moving.”
”Motherf.u.c.ker,” I muttered, adjusting my morning wood and fighting the urge to cold-c.o.c.k him when the barrier between us was removed.
”Put your hands through the bars.” He dangled the handcuffs in his hands, shaking them for effect.
Grumbling, I did as I'd been told and then glared at him as he snapped them shut. Pulling them back through the bars, I waited for him to unlock the door without breaking eye contact.
We didn't speak as he walked behind me. Through the windows I could see the other club members encased in their cells-exactly where they deserved to be. A few others were being handcuffed and would probably take the same walk, but with a very different outcome.
”Last room on the left.”
Settling into the chair, I placed my cuffed hands on the table and waited for him to close the door. As soon as I heard the click, I couldn't hold it in any longer.
”It took you f.u.c.king long enough.” I shook my hands, bringing his attention to them.
”You're such a sissy.” He laughed, grabbing the key from his pocket as he approached the table.
”Want to switch places and see who can last longer without complaining?”
”Shut up,” he teased, unlocking the cuffs before taking a seat across from me.
”What's the plan?” I scratched my longer-than-normal facial hair that had grown overnight. I wanted a shower more than anything. I barely felt human. The stench of old liquor and jail clung to me.
”They're all being sent to different federal holding facilities to await their hearings and eventual trials. Keeping track of each other will be almost impossible. You're going to have to go to headquarters and be debriefed for a couple of weeks to be safe. After that, you should be able to go home.”
I blinked, staring at him and processing the words. Home. Would it still feel that way to me after being absent for so long? I had never been away this long. Even after training and returning home for a visit, I had felt like I hadn't quite belonged anymore. After a week, I'd fallen into the smooth, easy routine and felt like a Gallo again. Could I do that now?
”When do I get to leave?” I leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs at my ankles, and stretched.
”Bobby is on his way to get you, and you'll be on a flight to D.C. tomorrow.”
”Good. I can't go back to that cell. Sorry again you got pulled away from the family.”
”To get you out of this bulls.h.i.+t life it was worth it.” He smiled, running his fingers through his hair.
”I just want it all to be over.” I tried to smile, but nothing came.
His own faded as he scrubbed his hands over his face. ”What's wrong?”
”Where do you want me to begin?” I laughed without cracking a grin and shook my head. I could sit here all day and b.i.t.c.h about s.h.i.+t, but then I'd be playing into the ”pansy” crack he'd made earlier.
”You were in too long. They should've never let the case drag on the way it did. It was meant to be short term, but you got in too deep for them to end it. They saw the big fish dangling before them and didn't care how it would affect you.”
”I can deal with the s.h.i.+t. I can shake the life I'm leaving behind. There are a few casualties that I hadn't put much thought into until now.”
”Roxy?” he asked, resting his hands on the table.
”Yeah. What happens to her now?”
”Probably what happens to all the women tied to the club. They get by somehow.”
”I'm going to vanish, James, into thin f.u.c.king air. It won't sit well with her. She loves me.”
”Do you love her enough to risk everything?” He tilted his head, studying my face. ”She'd hold your life in her hands.”
”I don't know. I do love her, but what if she looks at me as a traitor?”
”It's something you're going to have to decide and talk to headquarters about. They'd have to sign off on that s.h.i.+t.”
”I know, and they're going to be c.o.c.ksuckers about it. That s.h.i.+t I know.”
A knock on the door broke the silence that had developed as we both thought about the repercussions of this mission. When you're inside, it's hard to see the end. I'd lived day to day and hadn't thought about the future. After a while, it'd felt like it would never get here, so I'd allowed myself to become one with my new persona. I'd thrown caution to the wind, and now, my heart would be the casualty.
”Time to go,” James said, nodding toward the door and standing.
I followed suit, sighing as I felt my shoulders slump from relief. ”When will I see you again?”
”I'll meet you up in D.C. in a couple of days. I'll be with you the whole time. We were both neck deep in this, and since I was your contact person, I need to be there. It'll be soon.”
”You're coming straight there?” I asked as I moved toward the door, quirking an eyebrow at him. I wondered if he'd take a side trip to see Izzy before he met me.
”Yes.”
I grabbed the doork.n.o.b and turned slightly. ”When you call Izzy, can you tell her I'm okay and to let everyone know I'll be home soon?”
”I'll tell her. She'll be relieved.”
”Yeah, I'm sure they all will be.”
Chapter 9.
At times, I felt like a criminal as I was debriefed at DEA headquarters. I'd been grilled hour upon hour, day after day, and it was becoming annoying. I was ready to go home. I'd given the agency enough of my time.
James had arrived a few days after I did and had been put through the ringer too. We were outsiders within the agency. Everything that had occurred while I'd been undercover was called into question, and we were both being asked to explain the actions. We had been interviewed about the evidence, our behavior, and everything in between. Finally, after fourteen days, we were told we could leave, but had to be ready to come back when called.