Heaven help her—they had to.
Chapter 6
The adrenaline faded, leaving Gaby drained but still able to function. She pushed through like she always did. She’d been through worse. Hell, she’d survived being held at gunpoint while traffickers debated her market value. But this was her first firefight since then, and the comedown hit her hard.
She forced herself to focus on Big Tex, even though she never wanted to see his blotchy, tear-stained face again. Did he really think sobbing like a four-year-old after a bad dream would earn him sympathy? His nightmare was real, and entirely of his own making.
Gaby stood in front of the observation window, watching through the one-way glass. Inside, harsh fluorescent lights glared down on Tex, hunched at a metal table, cuffed, and sweating through his shirt. His attorney sat next to him, a sharp-dressed man in a Brooks Brothers suit and gleaming Italian shoes.
The lawyer had already advised his client not to say another word and deepen the hole he’d already dug. His warnings didn’t matter. They had Tex on video. More than a dozen witnesses placed him with Leonovich. His briefcase of cash, which only opened with his thumbprint, was counted and logged as evidence. And they had Lyssa.
No attorney in the world could magic that away. His shot at avoiding a life sentence was cooperation. Everyone in both rooms knew it.
Special Agent Keene sat across from Tex, posture relaxed but laser focused. Agent Price remained standing, arms crossed, expression fixed as if carved from stone.
“How am I supposed to think with you all yellin’ at me?” the older man whined, sounding nothing like an oil tycoon.
“No one’s yelling,” Keene replied calmly. “Start talking.”
Tex’s gaze cut nervously to the one-way glass, straight to where he knew they were watching. He had no idea who was behind it, and that made him sweat even more.
Gaby’s nails dug into her palms.Come on. Give us something.
“I already told you,” Tex rasped. “Viktor was Enzo Denali’s right hand.”
Price didn’t blink. “We know Viktor was a facilitator. We’re asking who he works fornow.”
Gaby nearly stopped breathing. They’d suspected Viktor’s role, but Tex had just confirmed it. He didn’t need to know that, however. The agents were playing him perfectly, letting him think they had it all figured out.
He swallowed, the sound thick with fear and resignation. “Enzo ran his mouth too much. If he hadn’t, maybe he’d still be alive, and I wouldn’t be sittin’ here running mine to stay out of prison.”
“So far, you haven’t given us anything. So, don’t plan on it,” Price drawled. He turned to his partner. “We’ve been at this for over an hour. Let him try his luck with the federal prosecutor.”
The attorney frowned. “I’d like to have a minute alone with my client.”
“Fine by me,” Price said, heading for the door. “It’s been a long day. I’m ready to go home after I catalog into evidencethe video where your client turns over $250,000 in cash for an eighteen-year-old girl.” To Keene, he added, “I’ll notify the marshals we’ve got a transport to the federal detention center.”
“No, wait,” Tex blurted. In his panic, he tried to stand, but his cuffs clattered against the metal tabletop, reminding him he couldn’t.
Price paused and skewered him with an impatient look. “You’ve got five minutes to convince me you’re worth a deal.”
The big man nodded, while his attorney squirmed.
Keene slid the photo of Natalie toward him. “This girl. Where was she taken?”
Tex looked at it. Too long. Too carefully. Finally, he muttered, “Never seen her.”
“He’s lying,” Gaby hissed at the same time Price growled, “Now you’ve got four minutes.”
Keene leaned forward. “The rescued girl mentioned an island.”
Tex froze. Actually froze. Like someone had yanked the plug on his power source.
“You know something,” Keene accused. “This is your chance to tell us.”
“Are you going to cut me a deal?” he asked as a drop of sweat dripped off his chin and onto the table. He didn’t move or wipe it away. That was the least of his problems.
“I think we’ve established that depends on you,” Price countered. “I’m leaning toward no unless you give us intel we don’t already know.”
