Double Play (Nadia Stafford 3.5)

"Don't ask me details about the job. These people aren't like you and me. If they want something, they get it."

"So do I."

Cillian shifted. "Sure you do, Jack. I didn't mean it like that. Yes, they want to hire you. They'll pay your going rate." A nervous laugh. "I don't even want to guess what that would be. Off my pay scale. A few years ago, I thought of asking if I could sell that favor you promised me. Would have made my retirement, I'm sure. A guy like you--"

"--is not someone you fuck with."

Sweat dripped into Cillian's coffee.

Jack continued, "Don't care about the job. I'll tell them to fuck off. Better yet? You'll tell them. That's how we'll handle this. You tell them fuck no. They don't like the message?" Jack shrugged. "Say it nicely. Maybe that'll help."

"You--you don't understand, Jack."

"Yeah, I do. I understand my old friend fucked me over. I understand he might not survive that message. And I don't give a shit. Can't." Jack rose. "Also, tell them--"

"They've gone after your girl."

"What?" he said, slowly and, he hoped, calmly.

"Your girl. The hitwoman. The one you trained."

"Dee?"

A short laugh. "You're fucking more than one? Lucky guy."

Jack's cold stare made Cillian shift. "Sorry. Yes, Dee."

"She's my protege."

Ever since word got out that he was Nadia's mentor, everyone presumed sex was part of the arrangement. Otherwise, why the hell would you bother with a girl? They couldn't entertain the possibility Jack might have trained her because she was good. Easier to say he was sleeping with her. Now that he was, it got tougher to work up righteous indignation, but he still managed enough that Cillian ducked his gaze and muttered, "That's what they think. Whether it's true or not--"

"Not."

"That doesn't matter, Jack. They're going through her to get to you. Well, through Quinn first."

"Who?"

"Quinn. The Boy Scout. That's what they call him, right? Fucking vigilante--"

"What about him?"

"I only know what these guys told me. I don't keep my ear to the ground the way I used to--"

"Quinn. Dee. Connect them."

"Okay, so these guys know--uh, presume--you're sleeping with Dee. Only, apparently, getting to her is almost as tough as getting to you. But she's rumored to be pals with this Quinn, and he's much easier to contact. So that's their plan. Set Quinn up. Take him hostage. Bring Dee running. Use her to make you do whatever they want. Complicated, I know, but this shows how badly they want you, Jack. The lengths they're willing to go."

Don't panic. Don't fucking panic.

I can fix this. Will fix it. Dodged a bullet. A fucking well-aimed bullet, but consider it dodged. Nadia is fine. She will continue to be fine. I just need to make that call . . .

That call . . .

The unanswered call. The click on the line.

Jack's head jerked up. "When is this supposed to happen?"

"Now, Jack. It's happening now."