"Do tell," Vinnie said.
Brant started relating what he knew, and it was a bit more than I did. Andrew and Knox added some here and there, as did Burke. I just stood there like a dummy, stunned that I was talking to so many different people from different worlds. FBI agent? Former mob boss? Someone Ivan knew in his former life?
What had Brasov pulled me into?
Vinnie grimaced when everyone was done explaining the situation to him. "Even in my alleged former life, I never took with selling people. Many men who are in my former position don't. There's money in it, yes, but the trouble that comes with it isn't worth it."
I glanced at Andrew. "Alleged?"
Andrew shrugged.
"Let me make a few phone calls," Vinnie said. "I believe Bruno Salvatore is running things in New York right now. I doubt he knows this is going on right under his nose."
"There's a man named Stanton involved in this as well," Knox said. "He recently bought a trucking company in Corpus Christi. We believe he is hooking up with Brasov and plans to use his trucking company to do it."
"John Stanton?" Vinnie asked.
Knox's eyes narrowed. "Yes." He glanced at Ivan. "Can you replay that news conference for them?"
Ivan nodded and tapped a few buttons on his tablet. I pressed my face into Andrew's arm when the video came on. I didn't need to see it again. Once had been enough.
"We're still trying to piece everything together," Andrew said once the video was done, "but we think Stanton planned on buying Dalton for his daughter."
It was weird seeing a man of Vinnie's stature and presence snort. "That woman is a piece of work."
"You know the Stantons?" Knox asked.
"Back in the day, I did business with Stanton. Once and only once. It was enough to make me steer clear of the man from then on. It doesn't surprise me that he would be involved in something like this. He treated his employees like they were only little lackeys there to do his bidding."
"Do you think he can be stopped?" Andrew's arm tightened around me. "Him and Brasov?"
"Like I said, I'll make some phone calls. In the meantime, I'd suggest you do everything you can to keep that young man safe."
I gulped when Vinnie pointed directly at me.
"He's a living witness to what Brasov is up to, and Brasov can't allow that. I seriously doubt he plans on selling you at this point. He needs to make sure you disappear."
"You think he's going to kill me?" I asked.
"Not where anyone can see it, no. It would bring too many questions." Vinnie took a long drag off his cigar before continuing. "Brasov will play out his little game until the heat dies down and then dispose of you where no one will ever find the body."
"Peachy." I rolled my eyes. "My life is a made-for-TV movie."
Chapter Sixteen
~ Andrew ~
Brant glanced off screen for a moment. "What's wrong?"
"It's Mr. Lany, sir," someone standing just outside of view said. "He's...well, he's caught in a tree, sir. Upside down."
Brant breathed deep as he glanced back to us. "I have to go. I'll let you know if we learn anything new."
"Thank you for your help, Brant," Ivan said.
"Buy me a drink the next time we see each other and we'll call it even."
Ivan chuckled. "I'll do that."
