“Duly noted.” She smiles and takes a bite of her burrito and chews; her eyes cast down. I open my mouth to speak, but my cell phone begins chirping, interrupting me. I see its Jasper calling me and drop my burrito on the plate and dust off my hands before I grab my cell and answer it.
“Jasper?”
“Hey, bro. It’s good to hear your voice finally. How are you feeling?” He says on the other end.
“I’m good, man. Back to myself. You got something for me?” I answer, glancing at Ezra, who was watching me curiously while she nibbles on her food.
“I got that information you wanted. James told me to wait till you were back on your feet before I told you. We have sufficient dirt on Quintero to bury him. The trafficking of young girls, the organ theft, and the money laundering, dude, it’s all here. We have a phone discussion that your bug picked up in his office about a shipment coming in the day after tomorrow. Shall I leak the information, or do you want to wait?” I sigh and look at Ezra. She’s chewing on her burrito, looks at me, and smiles warmly.
If I do this, it won’t only take down Hugo; it will destroy her too.
Come on, Damien, where’s your fucking backbone? You got into this whole mess for this very reason. Are you going to let a girl derail your plan?I felt a very overwhelming pang of guilt, and I shoved it aside hastily.
“Hold on to it. I’ll be in touch.” I reply and hear Jasper mutter an okay before hanging up and setting my phone on the counter. I push the plate away and sigh heavily while I rub my temples.
“Hey, are you okay? Who was that?”
I shake my head. “I’m fine. It was someone I work with.” I push the stool back and stand up. “I’m going to shower.” I pick up my cellphone and stride out of the kitchen and skip upstairs, ignoring Ezra calling my name. I need to get my head straight fast and figure out what the hell I’m going to do.
I feared this moment for the last couple of weeks. I hate that she’s wormed her way into my head and, worst of all …my heart.
* * *
After an exceptionally longshower and much too much deliberating, I decided to go with my head. I would drive myself insane if I didn’t act right away. I wrap the towel around my waist and walk back into the bedroom. It’s empty. Ezra’s hadn’t come up yet. I pick up my cell and find Jasper’s number. I chew my lips apprehensively, I close my eyes and hit the call button, and it begins ringing.
“Yo.”
I bite my lip hard. “Sit tight with the information you have. Send me a copy, and I’ll be in touch with what needs to happen next and how we’ll proceed.”
“You got it.”