Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74291 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74291 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“It’s just ten minutes. Stop whining, Paul. You sound like an old mother hen,” I tell him, grabbing the coffee he’s handing me. Coffee, sweet nectar of the gods. It’s the only thing that keeps me going these days.
“Someone needs to worry about shit around here. You sure aren’t. What the hell do you think you’re doing, Ana?”
I freeze with my lips against the plastic lid on the container and close my eyes. Shit. Fuck. Damn. He knows. “I don’t know what you mean,” I bluff. “I don’t have much time though, so give me what you guys got at the raid yesterday.”
“What are you doing, Ana?” he repeats, but his voice is softer this time, the type of voice I imagine a father using on his daughter. Well, a good one. I never had one of those, but I can imagine it. And Paul is everything I wish my father had been. At fifty-two, he’s stern but caring, and has been a great role model. He’s helped me turn my life around. So, it’s not easy seeing the disappointment in his eyes right now.
“Please, Paul, let it go. Brass told me they wanted me to get close to Roman.”
“They didn’t mean his bed.”
“That’s not the first time a UC went beyond for a case. Don’t try to convince me I’m wrong.”
“It’s not, but that doesn’t make it right, and those guys have been with the DEA for fucking years; they’re one step away from going vigilante. That’s not who you want to model your career after. Shit, girl. You’re a fucking beat cop. The higher-ups only put you in this position because it involved your brother.”
“And it’s working, right?”
“Ana.”
“Paul, I have to try and get my brother out of this mess alive. If I can do that, that’s all that matters.”
“And kiss your career goodbye?”
“If that’s what it takes.”
“That’s crazy talk, kid. You don’t want to ruin your career over this. It doesn’t matter what you do, your brother’s still going to prison. You have to know that.”
“Maybe that’s the best thing for him. He can get clean behind bars,” I argue. He gives me that look. The one that says I’m being naïve. Maybe I am. I know drugs are thick in the prisons too, but he stands a chance of getting clean there. If he stays free, he’s going to die.
If he’s not already dead.
“Ana, you need to face facts.”
“Can you please just let this drop and tell me what they found in the raid?”
Paul sighs, but thankfully he lets it go. I know it’s just a temporary reprieve, but still I’m grateful.
“Nothing, kid. Much like we thought. We only did it to distract him and try to rescue you without closing down the investigation. That obviously didn’t work.”
I concentrate on my coffee and ignore the heat in my face.
“You’re having me tailed.”
“You had to know that. You might be deep undercover, but there’s no way they’re going to trust you not to fuck shit up—and not just because you’re Allen’s sister.”
“Because I’m a rookie.”
“Because you’re not even DEA. There’s too much invested to rest it on an unknown.”
“So there’s someone else undercover besides me?”
Paul’s silence speaks volumes. Shit. Fuck. Damn. I finish off the last of my coffee, going over the people I’m in contact with, trying to figure out who the fuck the other agent is. I sure as fuck don’t need someone getting me pulled from this case. Shit, I don’t want them to decide to close it down and bring Roman in either. Their first priority will not be my brother.
“We need you to take these and plant them in Roman’s bedroom. It’s the only room we’ve been unable to get a device in, undetected,” Paul says, handing me a small white envelope.
“Same drill as before?” I ask, stuffing the paper into the front pocket of my jeans.
“Yeah, try to keep them as close to the bed as you can, or the desk in his room.”
“Got it,” I tell him, trying to ignore the way I feel guilt at doing my job. I didn’t choose the life Roman has. I should have nothing to feel guilty about. Nothing.
“Try to remember that they’re there, will you? The last fucking thing you need to do is have Brass hear you taking it up the ass by one of their most-wanted kingpins.” I grow pale at his words. He’s upset, I get that. I didn’t expect that from him, however.
“I’ll just be going, now,” I tell him, turning away to leave.
He grabs my arm to stop me. “Ana, listen…”
I turn slightly so I can see him. “I think you’ve said enough. I appreciate the advice and concern, but at twenty-six, I will make my own decisions and live with the consequences. I don’t need anyone talking down to me.”