Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73302 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73302 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
I’d reconsider everything later, after I left here.
Later was going to suck almost as much as this call.
I listened for the sound of the shower, making sure Rafe wouldn’t be able to hear me, and then I blew out a breath and made the call.
“What the fuck is going on with you?” Maria asked.
“I’m working on a lead.”
“Does that lead have to do with the explosion at Rafael Theriot’s house?”
Fuck. “Not directly.”
“Where are you?”
“Working on a lead.”
“I’m about ten seconds from pulling you off this assignment. It’s time to start answering honestly.”
“You should get some sleep. Then you wouldn’t be so cranky.”
“Nine. Eight. Sev—”
“I went to the casino and saw Andretti. He followed Rafael, and I followed both of them.”
“And?”
“I was convinced he was working with Ivanov. I assumed he was keeping an eye on Rafael, but I was wrong. It was personal, and I managed to save Rafael from a knife across the throat.”
Maria exhaled.
“Would you rather I let him die?”
“He’s a Theriot. Should I care?”
“He’s not—” I froze. I’d been about to say he wasn’t like the others. Fucking hell, what was happening to me? He was exactly like the others, but he felt so good when he gave in to me when he—
“He’s not what?” Maria asked.
“He’s my connection, my way in. I need him alive. For now.”
“You fucking told him, didn’t you?”
How did she know? “I had to say something.”
“Right, and as a respected, veteran undercover agent, you couldn’t come up with anything but the truth.”
Heat filled my face. “I didn’t tell him the whole truth.” I paused, listening for the shower again. The water was still running. “I told him I worked for a government agency, and we made a deal.” So we hadn’t officially, but if Rafe tried to back away now, I was confident I could use my mouth to make him give in. “I won’t use anything I learn against him or his family, and he’ll work with me to find Ivanov’s link to the casino and bring the fucker down.”
“I told you not to bring Rafael in on this.”
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“Convenient.”
I blew out a long breath. “I can handle this.”
“I should pull you now.”
“Don’t. You know how hard I’ve worked, and no one else could get this close.”
“And that’s the only reason you still have a job. Fuck, it’s probably the only reason you’re not in jail.” Before I could respond to her probably true statement, she continued. “What happened to the man who attacked Rafael?”
“He’s dead.”
Maria didn’t say anything, but I could hear her exhale.
“The Theriots took care of the body. They think Rafe—uh, Rafael killed him.”
“You killed a man, and then—”
“He would have killed Rafe.”
“A mobster you know well enough to use his nickname.”
“Maria—”
“I don’t want any excuses. Tell me what happened next.”
“I followed Rafael back to his house.”
“Fucking hell. Why do you keep telling me you’re straight?”
“Because I—”
“I asked for honesty. After what I put up with from you, I deserve honesty.”
“Fine. I’m maybe not so straight.”
“Jesus, he’s not the one to try that out with.”
“Probably not, but life doesn’t always make things easier.”
“Like when you got assigned to me.”
“Yeah, like that.”
“Are you still at his house? Were you there when his car blew up?”
“Yeah, I was going to ride to the casino with him.”
“You’re going to give me a heart attack for real this time. Who blew up his car?”
“I don’t know.”
“Zach.”
“I don’t. I was there, and none of them know.”
“None of them? How fucking many Theriots are you friends with now?”
“Only Rafael. I hid and listened while the others were there.”
“Jesus Christ. He could have brought you out for them to—”
“No. He wouldn’t do that. He won’t risk his reputation with the family. He wants them to see him as someone important, not someone tricked by a fed. All of them assumed the bomb was set by Ivanov’s people.”
“Why would they kill Rafael if they’re trying to use him?”
“That’s what we’re confused about.”
“Figure it out, and don’t get in any deeper. You’re there to find Ivanov and bring him in, not to be sleeping with the enemy.”
“I’m working with the enemy to catch a bigger enemy. Don’t act like that’s not a typical government strategy.”
Maria sighed. “Take care of yourself. Physically and otherwise. You’re a fucking pain in the ass, but I don’t want you killed out there.”
“I’m watching my back.”
“Check in tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I ended the call and realized Rafe had turned off the shower. A few moments later, he appeared in the kitchen doorway. Clearly, he could move around as silently as I could. Had he heard anything?
As soon as I saw the raw, ragged burn on his hand, I forgot about everything but the pain he must be in. “Come here. Let me re-bandage your hand.”
He frowned. “You don’t have to do that.”