Page 153 of What Started In Deception

“About a week ago, I asked Asher for the twenty grand that he’d set aside for me. He loaned me another thirty to make things square, and I gambled half of it.”

Ty did cringe this time.

“I know, “Will said as he shook his head. “It’s entirely crazy. I’ve ruined my entire life, but somehow, I keep convincing myself that this will be the bet that will change everything.”

“That sounds like classic addiction, man.”

Will shook his head again. “I got the twenty-five grand to Richard through a courier before I bet that as well.”

“Okay. That’s good.”

“I thought so, too. Richard sent me a vague text, letting me know he got it, but then he said that he had a friend who might need a hand with something. I assumed he was talking about some free legal advice, so I said absolutely.”

Will tugged at his tie, pulling it off, then unbuttoned the first couple of buttons on his shirt. “Richard called me yesterday afternoon, saying that we needed to meet. I told him that I had a special date with Mac planned, but he said that I needed to show up at The Tap Room. His tone was different—flat and a little disturbing—so I told him that I would meet him there at six, hoping that we could keep things brief and I would still be able to meet Mac at the inn at seven thirty.”

“What happened when you got there?”

Will frowned as he shook his head, staring at the floor. “The whole situation was odd. He was odd—different from the man I’d shot the shit with for the last several months. He was far more serious and talked in circles. Most of what he said was pretty vague. After several minutes of sitting with him at the bar, nursing a beer, I figured out that I wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon—that meeting Mac wasn’t going to happen.”

“Did he threaten you for the rest of the cash?”

Will shook his head before he scrubbed his hands over his face, growing noticeably agitated again. “I wish it were that simple.”

“What did he want?”

“He told me that his friend needed a favor. I said of course.” Will shook his head again. “I thought we were going to set up a meeting in my office, but Richard started talking about Monroe House and wanting to store a couple of things in the warehouse for a few hours.”

Ty swallowed because he hadn’t expected things to be this bad. But they were so much fucking worse. “I imagine we’re not talking about canned goods.”

Will shook his head as he covered his face and shuddered out several more breaths. “He didn’t come out and say drugs, but the implication was clear.” Will started to cry before he shored himself back up. “God, man. I don’t see any way out of this. Unless I blow my brains out…”

Ty adamantly shook his head, seeing that Will was serious. “Don’t talk like that. You have a family who needs you. They love you. I lost my dad when I was younger, and that’s a pain that never goes away. Don’t leave your wife and kids to deal with that. Your mom, dad, Lydia, and Gram-Gram, either.”

“I don’t know what else to do.” Will wiped at the tears on his face. “All of this is making me sick. I can’t stop fucking puking. I drove around for hours last night, trying to think of a way out of this. The only thing that came to mind was taking myself out of the equation.”

Ty shook his head again. “What exactly did Richard say?”

Will shrugged. “Something about a truck coming by Monroe House in the early hours of Sunday morning. Richard’s friend’s guys will unload some stuff into the warehouse and stay with it for a couple of hours. Another truck that’s headed for Canada will come by at some point and pick it up.”

“Is there any way to cancel the arrangement if you get him the funds?”

“I don’t have the funds.”

“Can you go to your dad?”

Will adamantly shook his head. “I need to keep this as far away from him as I can. This would destroy his career.” More tears spilled down Will’s cheeks. “He doesn’t know anything about this, and that’s the way it’s going to stay. It’s bad enough that Richard made a sizeable donation to the food pantry. I had no idea who he was at that time. I had no idea until last night when I looked him up and started digging. But now there’s a traceable connection between organized crime and my family’s nonprofit.”

“Okay, so we’ll keep your dad out of it.”

Will stood now, then sat just as quickly, clearly unsteady. “I think we’re past the point of paying back the money. He owns me, and he knows it.”

Ty nodded because that was absolutely true. “What if I talk to a couple of my friends and see if there’s a way out of this?”

Will frowned. “What friends?”

“A couple of my clients are feds. FBI agents.”

Will rushed to his feet again. “No!”