The Broken Road (22 page)

“Well, first, let me fix you breakfast. You need something in your stomach for that medication.” Tommy quickly got up and made himself busy in the fridge. “Um. What do you eat for breakfast?” Seriously? Did he just ask me that? I had a quick and nasty retort but I bit my tongue. In the three years that we were together, we only had breakfast together a handful of times. We were always rushing around in the mornings, we barely said hello.

“Cereal is fine,” I replied. Tommy seemed relieved at the ease of the task and brought me the milk, a bowl and spoon, and the box of Cheerios.

“Thanks,” I said as I poured the milk. “Now start talking.”

Tommy cleared his throat. “Um. Okay. Well, about two years ago, we got a tip that Ricardo Cruz, a.k.a Reggie Cruz was in the area. He’s on the DEA’s most wanted list. He’s a bad man, Megan. Drugs, guns, extortion, everything. You name it, he’s got his grubby fingers in it.”

“Two years ago? What does Shane have to do with this? How did he get involved?”

“Shane was arrested for dealing about a year and a half ago. I think he was relieved he was finally caught. He had so much information that we wanted to use him. He was our Confidential Informant. He made a plea with the Feds to get out of the charge of dealing by helping to bring Reggie and his crew down. As far as Reggie and the like know, Shane went to jail. And he did.”

I sat there, my spoon in mid-air, stunned. If I could have moved my jaw any lower, I would have. This was something I never expected. I would have never put Shane working with Tommy.

“You mean to tell me that he was dealing drugs the entire time you and I were together? Don’t you think I should have known? Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked slowly. How could Tommy keep something this big from me?

“Megs, I couldn’t. There is a lot you don’t know about Shane. I couldn’t take away his cover like that. Shane was deeply involved, and I didn’t want you or anyone else getting hurt,” he said.

“Fine. Whatever. What about last week? Why didn’t you tell me then? That little tidbit of information would have been nice to have. That horrible scene at your office could have been avoided! Dammit Tommy! He left thinking I hated him. Why did you let me hate him so much?” I exclaimed, tossing the spoon into the bowl. The milk splattered but I barely noticed. I was getting so mad at Tommy. And myself.

Tommy hesitated. “Megs. We weren’t sure how well this was going to go. We had to take him down when we went after Reggie and the rest of the crew. If we hadn’t, they would have figured out that he was a narc.”

I thought about Tommy’s earlier visit this month. “What was up with your rant when you came over? Was that part of the story too?”

Tommy had the decency to look chagrined. “I told Shane that I never wanted you involved. I hated the fact that he was there. Personal reasons aside, if he was living with you, you were in even more danger. I tried to talk him out of it. But he kept saying that he could protect you. When your house got broken into, Shane started to realize that we were right.”

“So Reggie’s thugs were the ones who tore apart my house. Why?”

Tommy sighed. “We believe it was to send Shane a message. Apparently, word got out that he was living with you, a cop’s sister. That didn’t sit well with the organization, so he sent a couple of low-level punks into your place. They staked out your house and kept tabs on Shane in the green Expedition. Reggie doesn’t want his dealers to be comfortable and relaxed. He’s a paranoid bastard and will send messages to remind them of the damage that he can inflict and that Reggie has eyes and ears everywhere. The break-in was Shane’s message.”

I was speechless. I couldn’t form a single word. I was shocked. Tommy took a breath and started again.

“Things were okay for a while. Shane kept his head low and didn’t make any noise. We kept in constant contact. He wore a hidden microphone whenever he met up with the crew. We started taking them down, one by one. People were getting scared and that’s when they started talking about a plant within their crew. To Reggie, everyone was a suspect. Eric was pissed. He started talking nonsense and pointing fingers. The discontent in the ranks got so bad, that news spread to Christian, Reggie’s brother. Christian made the trip down from Jersey and within a day, Eric was dead. When Eric died, Shane panicked. He came to me for help and that’s when we started making arrangements for him to leave. He wanted to tell Reggie that he wanted out. But you can’t leave Reggie’s crew; not willingly anyway. He was scared to death that something might happen to you if he stayed. We were able to convince Shane to wait a day or so, but we knew he would run at the first chance. We were trying to hold off going in until we knew how they were getting the drugs into the country. We still don’t know who is supplying Reggie, but we had enough evidence to round up the mid-level and a couple higher-ups. Including Reggie. So we went with it. Arresting Shane was the only way we could get him out of there safely.” His eyes implored me to understand. I felt so crushed. Shane had lied out of necessity and the more I listened to Tommy’s explanation, the more upset I got.

“I said so many hurtful things to him. Oh my god. He must think I hate him,” I gasped. The tears that had been threatening to fall finally cascaded down my face. Everything I had thought about Shane was totally wrong. He wasn’t a lying jerk. He was trying to protect me.

“Shane was only doing what he thought was right. Megs, he felt horrible for lying to you. But you have to understand. He has been honest about everything except for this. He did move in because he truly didn’t have a place to go. The man was broke. But by the same token, he’s in love with you. The closer you two became, the harder it has been for him to come clean about this.”

I let out a shaky breath and closed my eyes. This felt so overwhelming. I couldn’t vocalize the thoughts that were swirling through my head.

“What about Kyle? Why did he shoot Kyle?” I asked numbly.

“Kyle was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Shane was acting as security for Reggie when a deal was going down. Kyle saw a group of men under the bridge and tried to investigate. Reggie’s men were armed and they don’t mess around. They have no issue killing a police officer. Before Kyle could get any closer, Shane shot him. Shane’s a damn good shot. Reggie and his crew fled the other way so they never saw Kyle. Shane shot him to try and protect him. He figured it was the only way.”

A heavy weight lifted off my shoulders.
He loves me.
The words hit me like a ton of bricks. I was thrilled that he felt the same way I did, but mortified at my own behavior. I grasped at the straws, trying to piece together the very fabric of our torn relationship. I can salvage this, I thought. Everything that had gone wrong could be made right again. If only I could talk to him, tell him how much I love him.
We can still work. We can be a family.

“I need to see him, Tommy. I need to tell him I’m sorry,” I said firmly, as I furiously brushed away the tears.

Tommy sighed with regret. “I’m sorry, Megan. You can’t. I don’t know where he is. The federal marshals have that information and I’m not privy to it. He’s in protective custody now and will be for a very long time.”

Any hope that I had of seeing him again quickly deflated. “Why is he in protective custody?”

“He is now a wanted man by the rest of Reggie’s crew. Reggie managed to get himself out on bail, and as we now know, some of his thugs are still out there.”

I sat there and tried to absorb it all. This was so much to take in. “So you mean to tell me that I will never see him again? I won’t be able to talk to him?”

Tommy hesitated, then said, “Honestly Megs. I’m not sure. We still have the rest of the gang to pick up. It will be at least until Reggie goes to trial. And we both know how long that could take.”

“Well that’s fucking lovely,” I muttered. I pushed away my bowl and coffee. “I’m done with this. I need to get dressed. I need to go home.”

Anger flicked in his eyes. “Yeah. About that. We’re assuming it was Reggie’s crew that went through your house yesterday. They didn’t destroy anything, but your home alarm went off at four thirty yesterday afternoon. The alarm company contacted your mother when they couldn’t get a hold of you.”

Suddenly feeling exhausted, I leaned back and rubbed my eyes. “The jerk that attacked me said that they came through and that’s how they figured Shane left. No one could find his things because I went through it all last week and put it in storage. Shit. What are we telling my mom? She doesn’t know what happened yesterday.”

“The truth,” he said simply. I stared at him in disbelief. Was he serious?

“The truth? Why would you say that? I mean, I know honesty is the best policy, but really? In this situation? She is already going through the roof that Shane shot Kyle. That he lied to everyone else. She is going to freak out and be paranoid that someone is out to get me. She’ll go nuts trying to protect me!” I sputtered, as I tried to paint the only possible scenario that could totally go wrong.

Tommy just shook his head. “Your mom isn‘t stupid. She‘s put two and two together. She‘s not buying the story your uncle gave her and truth be told, she’s pretty pissed that he lied to her. But, aside from that, you’re not getting the point. These people are dangerous. You were lucky last night. It could have been much worse. Reggie’s crew is out to get you. They are at least going to be watching to see if you have any contact with Shane. They are going to try and draw him out. It isn’t going to be safe for you here. You and your mom need to go away for a while. We can set you up in a nice house, take the dogs with you – ” I cut off that last sentence with a glare.

“Hell No! I’m not letting these crazy ass fools think they can drive me away. This is my house. My life. They already screwed up Shane’s. This isn’t going to happen to me again. I refuse to leave my family, my friends, and my life, because of some street urchin wanna-be thug is looking for Shane. I’m not going to be running scared every time I turn the corner or I see a stranger. I’m not going to do it,” I seethed.

My little rant took a lot out of me. I was wiped. Either that or the pain meds were finally kicking in. I stood up, despite the protest from my knocking knees. “I think I need to lie down,” I whispered. Tommy rushed to my side and supported my weight as he helped me down the hallway and into my bed. I gingerly rolled onto my side and he sat on the floor, next to my bed.

“We’re going to talk about this later. You and the baby need your sleep,” he said softly.

My eyes were slowly closing and then shot open at his remark.

“You know?” I whispered.

“Yeah. I know.” He leaned over and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Are you okay with it?” I wondered. I don’t know why I asked that. It just slipped out. It’s not like he had any choice in it. It‘s not going to affect him either way. My speech was beginning to slur. I was sounding like a drunk. All of the side effects and none of the fun.

“I’m okay. I can’t help but wish that it was under different circumstances. I mean, what baby wants a convict for a Daddy?” He gave me an impish grin that told me he was kidding. I rolled my eyes. “Seriously, Megs. I’m going to protect that baby. I’m going to protect both of you.” He leaned over again and kissed my forehead. “Take a nap. I’ll be here later.”

I woke up three hours later. Those pills really knocked me out and I hated feeling woozy all the time. Even though the doctor said that it was safe for the baby, I decided I wasn’t going to risk it. I gingerly rolled out of bed, cradling my right side. I heard voices down the hall and I followed them. My mom, uncle, and Tommy were sitting in the living room, talking. They stopped and looked up when I walked into the room.

“Did I interrupt something?” I joked, feeling uneasy. It was clear that I did, and it was evident when Uncle Bob stood up.

“Megs. I am so glad you’re doing better.” He kissed my forehead and led me to the couch. As soon as I sat down, my mother draped the afghan on my legs.

“Mom, I’m not sick. I’m fine,” I protested. Her look hushed me and I sat back while she fussed over me.

“I was telling your mother what sort of situation we’re in,” Tommy said gravely. I groaned and rolled my eyes. Great, just one more thing that she needs to stress about, I thought, as I gazed at the worry etched on her face.

“I think we should do what Tommy suggests and leave for a while.”

I disagreed.

“He’s right. You need to get out of here. But, I’m not going anywhere. They know Shane is gone and they think that he’ll come back for me. If I leave here with you, they will come after the both of us. There is no way I’m putting you in danger, Mom.”

“Megan Louise Connors! You listen to me and you listen good, dammit. I am not letting you or my grandchild sit and wait for a potential bloodbath. Do you honestly believe that you’re safe here? You’re going to end up being their target!” my mother cried out.

I turned my face and brushed away the tears that started falling. She was right, obviously. I had to think about my child now, and protecting it at all costs.

Tommy coughed and said, “I think we’re too late for that. We’ve been noticing an increase in vehicle traffic in the neighborhood. Now, without putting Reggie’s crew on notice that we’re here, we can’t stop every single car and ask for identification. It isn’t safe for either one of you here right now. I’ve made arrangements for you to go with my partner Rick Sims. He will take you to an undisclosed location for the time being.”

My mom held my hand while we listened to Tommy lay out the plan and my heart sunk even lower. The peril that we were in seemed a lot more dangerous than I had led myself to believe. He described the tactics that Reggie’s crew uses and it scared the crap out of me. Tommy was right. We need to leave.

“I’ll go pack a bag right now,” my mother said quickly. Her lips were pressed into a tight line and I could see the pain she was in. She was terrified, but putting up a brave front.

“I don’t have anything here, besides the clothes I wore yesterday. What am I going to do?” I asked quietly. I didn’t want to become a bigger pain in the ass than I already was.