Read Online Barely Undercover by Sarah Castille - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sarah Castille
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your confidence; same way I know you won’t break mine. And I’m the one with the most to lose. If Rex finds out about me, I’m done and I’m not just talking about the assignment.”
Lana shot a quick glance at Jackie, still at the window, and received a curt nod of assent. She didn’t want to divulge a client’s details without Jackie’s agreement.
“Okay. You’re right. It’s Angel.” She filled him in on the details, leaving out the week of surveillance she’d already completed.
James raked his hand through his hair. “I know Angel. Maybe she spun out a sob story to you, but she’s as tough and ruthless and hard-nosed as they come. And she’s no saint, I can guarantee you that. You think Rex is bad; Angel is worse.”
Stiffening her spine, Lana leveled her gaze at the man she once thought was her entire world. “I don’t care who she is or what she’s done. I saw a woman who wanted out of a bad life and a mother who wanted to protect her daughter. She needed my help and had the money to pay. She’s my client and I’ll do my best for her. The same way I’ll do my best for all of them.”
For a long moment he said nothing. Then he shook his head. “You’ve always had a soft heart. Too soft. You don’t see people for who they really are.”
Like him. She had never been so wrong about anyone in her life.
“You’re right about that.” She knew from the way he flinched, he understood her meaning.
James perched on the edge of her sofa and sighed. “I know this case means a lot to you. But for two years I’ve been…”
“Hooah.” Jackie’s breathless gasp cut him off. “There’s a parade of man candy down on the street. It’s like every fantasy I’ve ever had, all rolled up in four badass leather-and-steel packages of biker heaven. They come with you, Ice?” She looked over her shoulder at James, and he and Lana joined her at the window.
“Fuck.” James thumped his fist on the windowsill. “Those are Rex’s boys. He had Kickstand follow you home from the club so he would know where you lived. He’s clearly still not buying our story.”
“Or maybe he is.” Lana’s voice wavered. “And he doesn’t care.”
“Lookit them standing there, all tough and manly in their leathers, leaning against their crotch rockets.” Jackie’s voice was thick with lust. “Where did you say that barbeque was? I’m suddenly in the mood for some flame-broiled beef.”
Lana’s blood chilled. She had done this to herself.
Surveillance Rule # 12: Be discreet.
“I don’t understand.” Her brow creased in a frown. “Why are they here?”
James grimaced. “Because if I don’t bring you, Rex will consider you fair game. He’ll think I can’t control my old lady, or that you weren’t my old lady at all. He’ll tell his boys to escort you to the barbeque as his guest, whether you want to go or not. I didn’t realize until now that his invitation wasn’t really an invitation. It was a test. And it was directed at me.”
Lana bit her lip. “Didn’t you say being your old lady would protect me from his advances? Isn’t it actually safer for me to act as your old lady than stay away?”
He fell silent, toying with her curls as he studied her face.
Finally, he said, “I don’t know if I can keep up an act around you when I’m already acting a part. It’s stressful enough and then worrying about you…” He took a deep breath. “I’m worried I’ll blow my cover. A lot of time, money and effort have gone into this operation. We’ll save a lot of lives by taking down Hades. I know you want to help Angel, but I can’t take the risk. Too much is riding on this assignment.”
Lana wiggled the toe of her shoe into the carpet as she begrudgingly admitted he was right. She couldn’t interfere with his assignment, and she didn’t want to put his life at risk. She hated him, but not that much. A little ingenuity and she would find another way to get Rex off her back and get
Lana shot a quick glance at Jackie, still at the window, and received a curt nod of assent. She didn’t want to divulge a client’s details without Jackie’s agreement.
“Okay. You’re right. It’s Angel.” She filled him in on the details, leaving out the week of surveillance she’d already completed.
James raked his hand through his hair. “I know Angel. Maybe she spun out a sob story to you, but she’s as tough and ruthless and hard-nosed as they come. And she’s no saint, I can guarantee you that. You think Rex is bad; Angel is worse.”
Stiffening her spine, Lana leveled her gaze at the man she once thought was her entire world. “I don’t care who she is or what she’s done. I saw a woman who wanted out of a bad life and a mother who wanted to protect her daughter. She needed my help and had the money to pay. She’s my client and I’ll do my best for her. The same way I’ll do my best for all of them.”
For a long moment he said nothing. Then he shook his head. “You’ve always had a soft heart. Too soft. You don’t see people for who they really are.”
Like him. She had never been so wrong about anyone in her life.
“You’re right about that.” She knew from the way he flinched, he understood her meaning.
James perched on the edge of her sofa and sighed. “I know this case means a lot to you. But for two years I’ve been…”
“Hooah.” Jackie’s breathless gasp cut him off. “There’s a parade of man candy down on the street. It’s like every fantasy I’ve ever had, all rolled up in four badass leather-and-steel packages of biker heaven. They come with you, Ice?” She looked over her shoulder at James, and he and Lana joined her at the window.
“Fuck.” James thumped his fist on the windowsill. “Those are Rex’s boys. He had Kickstand follow you home from the club so he would know where you lived. He’s clearly still not buying our story.”
“Or maybe he is.” Lana’s voice wavered. “And he doesn’t care.”
“Lookit them standing there, all tough and manly in their leathers, leaning against their crotch rockets.” Jackie’s voice was thick with lust. “Where did you say that barbeque was? I’m suddenly in the mood for some flame-broiled beef.”
Lana’s blood chilled. She had done this to herself.
Surveillance Rule # 12: Be discreet.
“I don’t understand.” Her brow creased in a frown. “Why are they here?”
James grimaced. “Because if I don’t bring you, Rex will consider you fair game. He’ll think I can’t control my old lady, or that you weren’t my old lady at all. He’ll tell his boys to escort you to the barbeque as his guest, whether you want to go or not. I didn’t realize until now that his invitation wasn’t really an invitation. It was a test. And it was directed at me.”
Lana bit her lip. “Didn’t you say being your old lady would protect me from his advances? Isn’t it actually safer for me to act as your old lady than stay away?”
He fell silent, toying with her curls as he studied her face.
Finally, he said, “I don’t know if I can keep up an act around you when I’m already acting a part. It’s stressful enough and then worrying about you…” He took a deep breath. “I’m worried I’ll blow my cover. A lot of time, money and effort have gone into this operation. We’ll save a lot of lives by taking down Hades. I know you want to help Angel, but I can’t take the risk. Too much is riding on this assignment.”
Lana wiggled the toe of her shoe into the carpet as she begrudgingly admitted he was right. She couldn’t interfere with his assignment, and she didn’t want to put his life at risk. She hated him, but not that much. A little ingenuity and she would find another way to get Rex off her back and get
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