Read Online Deep Cover by Kimberly Van Meter - Free Book Online

that you two were invited too quickly to this ultrasecret party. Something doesn’t feel right. I think you ought to sit this one out, make some excuse to see how they react.”
    “And if we never get another invite?” Shaine returned, echoing Poppy’s fear.
    “It could be a trap,” Victoria said, shaking her head. “Think about it. You’ve been on the scene for three days and suddenly you’ve been invited to this inner circle party? Doesn’t that smell like something rotten?”
    Shaine tightened his lips as if unwilling to admit that maybe they were right but couldn’t ignore what everyone was saying.
    But Poppy didn’t want to back down. This could be their only chance. “What are you doing? We’re supposed to be elite agents and you’re all acting like rookies.”
    “They have a point,” Shaine said, freshly irritating Poppy. “Let’s take a step back and see what happens.”
    “I can’t believe this. A minute ago, you were all cocked ready to go and now you’re backing down. What’s going on?” An ugly thought came to her. She narrowed her gaze at Shaine. “Is this about me? You think I can’t handle the heat? That’s bullshit, Kelly. Utter bullshit.”
    “I didn’t say that,” Shaine returned hotly, but Poppy wasn’t buying it now.
    Marcus and Victoria didn’t know about the history between Shaine and herself, and neither of them wanted to enlighten their partners, but damn, Shaine was making it difficult to handle things professionally.
    “Nobody is saying that,” Marcus said. “Stop wearing your feelings on your shirtsleeve and listen to reason. If you stop and think for just a minute, you’ll agree that it was too easy. It was a test and you’re about to blow it.”
    Poppy couldn’t believe this. Everyone was turning on her. Her chest tightened with the urge to scream, but she held it back. Instead, turning to Shaine she said stiffly, “I disagree with the consensus, but since you have more experience in the field, I’ll defer to your judgment.”
    God, the words felt like glass leaving her mouth, but at least she managed to get them out.
    Shaine held her gaze for a moment and a shock of awareness coursed through her—an electrical current that sizzled down her nerve endings and jolted awake a fitfully sleeping giant—and she had to break contact to preserve the illusion that they had no history.
    “Poppy is right,” Shaine finally said, shocking her. “We might not get another chance to get into the inner circle. We have to take the risk that it’s a trap and go for it.”
    Poppy blinked back the sudden wash of emotion and managed to jerk a short nod of gratitude, then turned to Victoria and Marcus who were shaking their heads, resigned to going through with it.
    “Fine,” Marcus said. “Good luck. Don’t get your ass killed trying to be a hero.”
    Victoria said to Shaine, “Same goes for you.”
    Poppy’s cell jangled to life. “It’s Capri. We’re riding together.”
    Shaine nodded. “Stay sharp. Capri may look young, but she’s got something going on with Angelo, which makes her a suspect.”
    Poppy accepted that advice, though she hated to think that Capri was bad. She knew that was dangerous thinking, but she had a soft spot for the kid and desperately wanted to put her on the right path when this was all said and done.
    Grabbing her purse, Poppy exited the apartment, leaving behind the team.
    Shaine would follow fifteen minutes later in his own car.
    Capri honked and waved from a sleek convertible Mercedes and Poppy cringed internally. The kid was in deep if she was buying sports cars for herself or, worse, allowing someone else to buy her expensive cars.
    “Hot ride,” Poppy said with appropriate envy, admiring the black leather interior. “Damn, girl, that’s a lot of lap dances.”
    Capri giggled as Poppy buckled up, saying, “Only if you’re giving the right people private shows.”
    Poppy swallowed her trepidation and smiled encouragingly.