Chapter 11 Street
After Jules went inside, Street sits in the car for a moment, contemplating what to do. He knows Spike is monitoring everything, and the possibility that Sophia is at the top of this pyramid nags him. So he puts the car in drive and hits dial.
Listening to the dial tone, Street swallows. This next part will be interesting, and he sure as hell is glad the girls are not listening in.
"Matt, baby, that was quick," he hears through the car's audio system and rolls his eyes at her flirty voice.
"You saw me drop Jess off. And you wanted me to call," he tries for the most teasing voice he can muster.
"She looked pissed. What did you do?" Street hears that Sophia is pretty pleased with what she thinks she saw.
"Nothing, just spilled her coffee… she needs a good workout and life is good," he replies as nonchalantly as he can while still trying to get the conversation going, "but don't tell me you just wanted me to call so you could tease me about the door slamming…" he trails off hoping Sophia spills her plan.
"How about we meet up for a workout?" her voice was sickly sweet, and the coughing was not even pretending. Street is surprised Sophia is being that brazen.
"Didn't you just leave a gym? And sorry, I am short on time. Meeting with a supplier for Sergio later…" he laughs off his spluttering, and in an instant, the air feels icy. Sophia takes a deep, audible breath in and out.
"About that," her voice turns hard, and Street can practically see her demeanor shift before his inner eye. "I need you to do something for me at that meeting…."
But the situation gives him a perfect opportunity to instill trust and position himself closer to the top of the organization if their suspicions were right, so his carefully intonated words are "Anything for you."
It works.
Sophia laughs shortly and then fills him in.
"I need you to vet the guy again. I don't trust him," Sophia starts, and again her voice is ice cold. Street frowns. The Canadians said Sam's cover was solid. He checked the background they provided.
"Okay, anything specific that has you worried? I mean, Sergio certainly vetted him, right?" he tries to get more information.
"He did, but seriously a man that boring would never get a girlfriend like the one he brought to the club, and on top she just walked into the same gym as yours," Sophia rattles off, and Street almost swerves.
"Okay, I'll check him out," he nods while navigating the city, "Anything specific I can use as pressure?" Street grits his teeth a little, knowing that anything Sophia now lists is a risk in Chris and Sam's covers.
Sophia proceeds to list of the address of the cover apartment and that it is in Lucia's name.
"So, you had them followed?" he blurts out and adds, "So that was you following me? Or at least your people? Not Sergio's?"
Street couldn't help himself there. He needed to know if she'd tell him she was the boss now. Now that he is obviously checking up on the operation on her behalf.
"I knew we could count on you," Sophia laughs instead of an answer. "Meet me tonight, after everything, and we can talk."
The line clicks dead, and Street prays that whoever had been listening in on this conversation had managed to warn Sam. Otherwise, this next part could be really, really awkward. And someone needed to warn Jules and Chris. He reaches for the console and dials Jules's cell, but the call goes directly to voicemail.
He tries a few more times, but in all reality, he knows that someone will fill the women in, and Street can only hope Sam knows what's coming too.
Street can't stall any longer and heads for the meeting spot.
When he arrives, he can see Sam standing next to his car and talking to someone on the phone. One last time Street checks his phone but still didn't get any callback or confirmation. So with a sigh, he parks and climbs out.
"Baby, my contact finally decided to show," Sam says loud enough for Street to hear every word. "Yes, I'll grab takeout when I am coming back."
"You're late." The man turns to Street, and he'd swear he is smirking behind the aviator sunglasses.
"I was with the boss," Street grits out and motions to the door. "So, that girl of yours," he nonchalantly tries to turn the conversation to his job. He couldn't be 100% certain that Sophia hadn't placed listening devices around the place. "How long have you known her?"
"Longer than you," Sam shoots back and pushes the aviators up. "Are we here to do business or talk relationships?"
"You're living with her, so we need to make sure she isn't…." Street shoots back, and Sam scoffs.
"Seriously… she's a party girl. She has no clue what I do for work and just reaps the benefits. If you or your boss are too scared to do business with me," he glares and shrugs at the same time, "I can find someone else. My inventory is safe,"
Sam turns to head back out when Street's phone buzzes. "Stop him. And tell him to pick up the phone."
The text from Sophia reads, and right on cue, Sam's phone rings.
"I'd answer that if I were you," he manages to keep his voice level, a little cold even, but his stomach had dropped. Sophia had obviously taken precautions.
Sorry, that took me quite a while. Next up is Sam. Hopefully a little quicker.