I park the truck in a warehouse a few blocks away.
I open the cargo doors, revealing the tiny human.
She rubs her eyes with her free hand. I unlock the cuff and pull her out the truck.
"See all this stuff?" I point to the pile of machine parts.
"Uh-huh," she answers with a yawn.
"Every part needs to be wrapped, boxed and placed in the truck. Neatly."
"Okay." She nods.
I head to the door. "I'll be back in a few hours."
I begin walking, but I'm not sure where to. It's 4:15AM, and I'm not used to having all this time on my hands. I know, I'll go to the open gym.
I workout until sunrise. I haven't felt this good in ages.
Guppy's job is in Markos, and that's quite a distance away. I would never admit it to anyone, but with my wallet the way it is right now, I can't even afford enough petrol to reach Markos. So, I got a quick job transporting these machine parts to Craddeck. It'll get me the cash I need.
I should probably check how the pipsqueak is coming along. I head back to the warehouse. I'm scrolling through my playlist when before I know it, I'm shoved against a wall. I groan as my shoulder hits the bricks.
"What the fuck!?" I shout as I stumble to regain my balance. There are two rough looking men in front of me. One of them picks up something. My phone. Shit.
"Get your hands off that." I reach for it, but the other man steps forward, shielding his friend.
"Robert Jacobson," the man announces after reading my phone ID.
"What's it to you?" I spit.
"You wouldn't happen to be Robert, the handsome consultant heading to Markos... in a truck?" An evil grin crosses the man's face. Did that receptionist tell the whole neighbourhood?
These guys are in a group... a crime group. Shit. Two verses one isn't good odds. I turn to run, but they're ready for me. I'm stopped in my tracks as they grab both my arms.
They drag me into an alley.
"Let go." I shake off their grip, and they block the exit.
"Consultants don't drive trucks," one begins. "But do you know who does?"
"Please enlighten me." I roll my eyes.
"Organised criminals. So how about you tell us what you're really doing in Markos?"
"I'm just trying to make my way in the world."
The one looks to the other. "He thinks we're playing games." He chuckles. "We know you're one of Garry's men, and Garry's men are no friends of ours." He opens his jacket to reveal a pistol. Shit.
"Whoa whoa, calm down." My heart is beating through my chest. I smile, trying to ease the tension. I've fought for years in this criminal underworld, and now it's going to kill me when I'm so close to fulfilling my promise?
He raises the gun. "Goodbye, Mr Consultant."
"I'm a freelancer!" I blurt out. "Yes, Garry hired me, but I have no loyalty to him, it's just business."
"Well you chose the wrong man to do business with." He clicks off the safety.
"I can do business with you to. You're throwing away a golden opportunity here." I raise my hands a little, showing I'm no threat.
They look at each other. "Opportunity?" They're going for it. Thank fucking goodness.
"Yes. I'm a freelance smuggler. I get people what they want, and I can get you what you want."
YOU ARE READING
From Chains
FantasyI'm working every waking hour. You'd think that smuggling would pay better, but nothing has been easy since the war. I can't go on like this. I need someone to take the load off my shoulders. I need a slave. --- Robert has had nothing handed to him...
