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“It’s a work in progress. He’s not just going to let me in after a few ‘bro’ moments. I have to earn his trust.”
“And how do you plan to do that?”
“I’ll play it by ear.”
“Don’t you think it’s a good idea to share your game plan with the people who are involved?”
“You stick to your plan, I’ll stick to mine. We’re not supposed to know each other so it doesn’t make sense to share every detail with you. If by some chance someone starts to get suspicious, plausible deniability is your friend.”
He was schooling her and she hated it. “Of course, I realize that. I’m just saying, I didn’t want to inadvertently step on your plan while making my own.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“I’m not,” she replied coolly. “My concern is for the investigation. You’re not the only one thinking of their résumé with this case.”
“Of that I have no doubt,” he said wryly. “Ambition is your middle name.”
Poppy paused, wondering where that came from. “Which means?”
“You’re so damn sensitive,” Shaine said, shaking his head as if he realized nothing that came out of his mouth wouldn’t set her off. “It doesn’t mean anything. It was never a secret that you wanted to climb the ladder—and judging by how quickly you managed to put yourself on a major undercover case, I’d say you’re well on your way.”
It was true. She’d been tireless in her pursuit up the chain. She’d taken every case she could get her hands on, just to prove that she had what it took to close cases.
Her superior had remarked often that if the DEA had ten more agents like Poppy, they could take down every major drug dealer exporting illegal substances out of the country.
“Thanks,” Poppy allowed, loosening up just a little. She supposed she could drop the chip on her shoulder for now. But that chip kept her focused, kept her mindful of the past and mistakes she didn’t want to repeat.
So hold on to that chip for now, you’ll need it to work beside Shaine.
“Look,” Shaine started, as if needing to get something off his chest. “I know I didn’t take it so well that you were on this case, but we have to put our differences aside to focus on the job.”
“I don’t have a problem with that. I have no interest in dredging up the past.”
“Good. I won’t lie to you and say that I didn’t have reservations, but I trust that you know what you’re doing and that you’ve learned a lot since your first case.”
Poppy stiffened, hating that he’d brought up the case with Lachlan. But she supposed she couldn’t expect him not to reference it when she’d nearly died because of a rookie mistake. “I always make it a point to learn from my mistakes,” she said pointedly, leaving it at that. “But I appreciate your professionalism.”
Shaine jerked a short nod. “Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way... I’m done for the night.”
Poppy watched as Shaine let himself out, locking the door behind him on the other side, and she exhaled a shaky breath.
Would she always feel so uncentered around Shaine? Although leaving the FBI had been an act of self-preservation, it’d also allowed her to spread her wings without fearing the opinions of those who’d known her.
Such as her family.
And Shaine.
Their judgment weighed on her like a sack of boulders and it’d been a relief to walk away.
But her love for Shaine had been fierce—nearly as fierce as her drive.
Leaving him had been like ripping an arm off and tossing it into the grinder.
It wasn’t just Shaine; it’d been losing his whole family that’d stung, as well. Shaine and his brothers, Sawyer and Silas, had become closer than her actual family. Unlike her own, Shaine’s family had supported her career goals.
The phantom pain of her bullet wound always reminded her of what she’d given up for her ambitions.
Working with Shaine was going to be the biggest challenge of her life.
Not because he wasn’t professional or a good agent...but because seeing him again ignited that tiny spark that refused to die no matter how much she smothered it under layers of denial and hurt.
And she couldn’t chance that spark turning into something bigger.
Not again.
She’d rather take another bullet—it’d hurt a lot less.
* * *
Sprawled naked on the pristine sheets, Angelo lit a cigarette and drew on it with a lazy, sated inhale as Raquel pulled her clothes back on, her agitation raining on his good mood.
“What’s your problem, baby-girl?” he asked, more curious than concerned. “You’re ruining an otherwise good night with your ’tude.”
Raquel, a hot number with a sizzling body, turned to glare at him with open accusation. “Did you hire her?” she demanded, momentarily confusing Angelo. “The new girl. Did you hire her?”
“No,” he answered, enjoying the flash of jealousy in her eyes. “But even if I did, what of it? She’s hot and she dances well enough.”
“I don’t like her.”
He chuckled. “Big surprise. You don’t like anyone.”
Raquel pulled her long red hair up into a messy ponytail with a sound of disgust as she walked into the adjoining bathroom. “There’s something about her that rubs me the wrong way.”
“You’re paranoid.” He stubbed out his cigarette and rose from the bed, admiring Raquel’s body as he joined her in the bathroom, walking past her to piss. “And stop being such a bitch to Brandi. You make more problems when you mess with her and then I have to clean it up.”
“Screw Brandi,” Raquel shouted back, leaving the bathroom. “You said you were leaving her and yet, here you are, still meeting with me in secret. What gives? I’m tired of that bitch thinking she’s got you wrapped around her finger.”
“Baby, patience. I told you, there’s a lot going on that you aren’t aware of,” he said, dropping back onto the bed. Did they have time for a quick bounce? Maybe he’d make time. Raquel was a wildcat in bed, but he’d have a helluva time explaining the scratches to Brandi.
Raquel returned to the bed, sullen and still unhappy. “I don’t understand why you keep playing her like that. If you want to be with me, you ought to just man up and tell that bitch to get off your dick.”
“What if I like the idea of two hot women fighting over me?” Angelo asked with a smart-ass smirk that was entirely genuine.
Raquel straddled him, nestling herself right up against his junk, but she twisted his nipple so hard he yelped. “I don’t play well with others,” she said sweetly as she released his nipple and kissed him hard before issuing an ultimatum. “Lose the bitch, or you lose me.”
Angelo didn’t like ultimatums. “Careful, baby-doll. Don’t forget who you’re dealing with.”
“And the same goes to you,” Raquel said, moving off him to grab her purse. “You’re not the only one with options.”
And then she left, closing the door with a hard slam that made Angelo want to jump up and jerk her back by her long hair to teach her some manners.
But that would have to wait. He had better plans.
He checked his watch and quickly cleaned up. Brandi was due to show up any minute.
The sound of a car pulling into the drive made him peer out the curtained window.
Brandi’s silver Mercedes.
Damn, he liked to live dangerously. Chances were Brandi and Raquel had passed each other in the dark without even knowing it. He chuckled and returned to his bed, waiting for Brandi to bound up the stairs to his bedroom.
“Hey, baby,” she said, kissing him as she began to strip. “Are you ready for me?”
“Always.”
After sharing a deep kiss, he stopped to ask, “Baby, did you get that package for me?”
“Yes,” she answered dutifully, rolling away to grab her purse. She withdrew a large manila package and handed it to him.
“Good girl,” he said, pleased. He’d get a fat bonus for delivering without incident. He reached over and grabbed Brandi by the back of the neck to kiss her roughly. Brandi liked to be dominated, and he didn’t mind muscling her around. He tossed the package onto his dresser, then barked an order, “Now get your ass naked and get over here, woman.”
Brandi laughed and did as she was told, stripping slowly, teasing him in the way he liked.
Whereas Raquel was all fire and brimstone, Brandi was classier, more refined.
He liked the differences in the two women.
And, in spite of what he told Raquel, he had no plans to turn either of them loose.
Playing both sides against the middle assured him a never-ending supply of quality ass in his bed.
At least for now.
But after a quick romp, something Raquel said came back to him and he thought to question Brandi.
“What do you think of the new girl?”
Brandi shrugged. “She’s all right. Nothing special as far as I can tell. Just your basic small-town country girl who thought it would be cool to go to the big city.”
“You think that’s all there is to her?”
“Yeah? Why?”
He shrugged. “No reason. Just trying to get a feel for her.”
“And why is that?”
He chucked her chin gently. “Hey, you know it’s my job to make sure that everyone is playing nicely,” he said, brushing a brief kiss across her lips. “So don’t be getting something in your head that it’s anything more than professional interest.”
Brandi nodded but she said, “Are you sure? You wouldn’t be messing around on me, right?”
“Of course not, baby. You’re my number one girl.” The lie tripped easily from his tongue, but there was a certain amount of truth to it, too. Brandi was the kind of girl he could potentially see a future with, whereas Raquel was just an exciting diversion.
Satisfied, Brandi settled against his chest. “She seems like a cool person. I mean, she has this slight edge to her, like she’s holding back something, but when she went out on stage, she really went all out. I was kind of impressed.”
“A natural,” he mused. “How did the other girls take to her?”
“The usual. Raquel was a bitch and Capri was a chattering twit, fawning all over her with that little bubblegum voice of hers, and Big Jane was no-nonsense. I didn’t pay attention to anyone else.” Brandi looked him in the eye. “And what about you? How’s the new guy? He any good?”
“Yeah, he’s decent. He said he worked for Grind. That’s pretty impressive cred.”
“I know someone who goes to Grind all the time. Want me to ask around if they know about him?”
“Yeah, baby, that’s real smart.”
Brandi snuggled in tighter and yawned, but before she could fall asleep, Angelo nudged her. “Time to go home, baby-girl. You know I can’t sleep with anyone else in the bed.”
Brandi groaned and sleepily rose to a sitting position with a pout. “But I’m so tired,” she complained, rubbing her eyes. “Why can’t I just stay?”
“Because I want our time together to be special and something I look forward to. If we start living together...that’s a death sentence, baby.”
She knew this wasn’t an argument she would win and she knew better than to push it. He slapped her ass as she climbed from the bed and grudgingly dressed.
“That’s my girl. Make sure you lock up when you leave.”
“Sure,” she mumbled and made her way downstairs.
He listened as she exited the house and then drove away.
Grabbing his cell, he sent a quick text.
Product in hand. Party set.
Extremely satisfied with how the day had ended, he fell asleep within minutes.
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