Chapter-72

As the days went by, the boredom of the safe house began to drive me crazy. I had nothing to do. Thankfully, Casey kept me up on the progress they were making with the data on the USB.

I was happy for the information she gave, but it wasn't enough. I needed to hear about Marlowe. However, no matter how many times I asked, the only thing I was told was that she was being protected. What the fuck did that even mean? Was she in witness protection, or not?

A few more days had passed when, finally, Casey entered through the front door, her face unreadable. "The DA's ready to see you," she stated. "He's going to offer you immunity if you give him your full cooperation."

"When do we leave?" I asked, more than ready to get this entire fiasco behind me.

"Now," she stated, "But one wrong move and the deal is off the table," she told me.

"Don't worry" I told her, bracing myself for whatever was coming.

Minutes later, as we drove to the DA's office, I played over every situation that could possibly happen. What if this all was for nothing. I should have just done what I’d wanted to in the first place and taken Lucien out myself.

I gave myself a mental shake. "Stop it," I inwardly growled. “This is all for Marlowe, don’t forget that!”

~~

I took a seat across from the prosecutor, and at his request, I began talking—telling him everything I had already told Casey. 

As I talked, the prosecutor made notes on a legal pad, and when I'd finished, he remarked, "This is quite the story. And if it's true, your information could bring down one of the largest crime syndicates in the city."

I nodded. "It's all true,” I told him.

"We'll need you to testify," he remarked.

"Figured," I murmured.

The prosecutor sat back in his chair. "If you're telling the truth, we will help you. But if you're lying..."

"I'm not a liar," I said firmly.

Arching an eyebrow, he murmured, "Alright. We'll draw up the immunity agreement then."

As the prosecutor began going over the specifics of my new existence under witness protection, I felt the weight of my choices. I couldn't help but wonder again if it would all be worthwhile. A life without Marlowe. The idea of never seeing her again was like a knife to my stomach. I'd at least been able to keep track of her before. Now, I didn't know if it would be possible.

~~

The days that followed were filled with paperwork and debriefings and bidding adieu to everything I had known.

The safe house I was brought to was a small, nondescript house in the suburbs. 

"This is it," Casey murmured.

I nodded. “It’ll work," I said, trying to sound more optimistic than I felt.

The first few days were a whirlwind of learning new names, new routines, and a new way of life. The government agents were thorough, teaching me everything from how to blend in to how to spot a tail.

The weeks turned into months. I started a small construction business under my new name, keeping my head down and my eyes open.

I built a life of quiet moments and weekends exploring the town that was now my home.

But there was always a part of me that was looking over my shoulder, waiting for the day the other shoe would drop. And when it did, it hit harder than I ever could have imagined.

One morning, as I was getting ready for work, the door burst open and Casey stepped in, "You've been compromised," she said, her voice flat.

I stared at her, unable to believe what I was hearing. "What are you talking about?" I demanded.

"The USB," she said, her voice cold. "It's been tampered with."

The blood drained from my face. “What? How?” 

"We’re working on figuring that out,” she told me.

Panic gripped my chest like a vice. "What about Marlowe?” I snarled.

Casey ignored my question and began pulling me out of the house and into the cold daylight.

~~

The drive to the station was a blur, and when we reached the inside the interrogation room, the walls closed in around me. The fluorescent lights flickered above, casting eerie shadows across the table.

"Tell me what you know," Casey said, sliding into the chair across from me. Her eyes were no longer filled with the camaraderie we had once shared. They were cold, calculating.

"I don’t know a fucking thing," I bellowed. "You have to believe me."

"I want to," she said, her voice low.

I clenched my fists, anger and fear battling for control.

"There are files missing from the USB," she said. "Who else knew about it?"

My mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle. Who had the means to manipulate the evidence?

"How the hell could someone get a hold of it? I thought you guys were supposed to keep that shit secure," I hissed.

"Where there’s a will, there’s always a way. Now tell me what you can,” Casey urged.

Suddenly the door opened, and Marlowe’s roommate walked in.

My eyes widened as I took in the sight of Brian. "What the hell is this?” I snarled looking at Casey.

Brian smirked, and holding out his hand, he murmured, “Special Agent Maxwell Cody. I’ve heard a lot about you Torin Dinelli, AKA, Torin Montero.”