It’s difficult not to get carried away.

This is the best fucking news I’ve had since they offered to take me to their home in the mansion yesterday. Was it really only a day ago I started this whole charade?

So much has already happened. I feel like I’ve been here for months.

Okay, well maybe not that much has happened, but still—I can’t help feeling like I’ve known them for more than a day.

My eyes move from one to the other as I try and plan my next move. This assignment is going to be a piece of cake from now on. The initial plan had been to get hired as an escort to get the dirt on them, but this is so much better.

I’ll be right in thick of it—the heart of the outfit, so to speak.

Man, oh, man. I feel like rubbing my hands together and doing a little victory dance.

It’s silly, I know.

Normally I don’t experience so much joy when things on an assignment go my way. I tell myself it’s got absolutely fucking nothing to do with the prospect of being able to be close to these sex gods. No way.

My mission is clear.

I work alone. I don’t get attached, not even to a gold fish.

The main reason for celebrating is how easy it’ll be to get all the dirt I need. I mean, if they leave important pieces of paper lying around in the kitchen, there must be some kind of office here. And if there’s a home office, there’ll be a computer.

There hasn’t been a computer yet that I haven’t cracked. Once I hack into their computer, all the dirt is mine. I can already picture myself handing the Senator the tiny memory stick.

Isn’t it amazing how so much useful information fits onto something so fucking small?

A tiny glimmer of pity ignites deep within me.

They’re hardened criminals, I remind myself.

These are exactly the type of men responsible for my dear mom’s miserable, fucking hard life. For that they’ve got to pay. It’s a steep price, but heck—they’ve got it coming.

There’s bound to be a massive bonus from the good Senator when I deliver.

He can be a generous man when he wants to be.

“Sorry,” I look back to Antonio.

With my thoughts running away from me, I had missed something in the conversation.

“Is there anything special you would like to do this morning, tesoro mio?”

The Italian rolling off his tongue is like dark chocolate melting inside of me.

Holy shit.

“Erm,” I plan my next move.

Stay cool, I remind myself.

“There are a few things I need,” I start and drop my gaze.

For some reason, the lies won’t come as easily as they usually do.

“The limo is yours, babe,” Marco says and starts to leave the kitchen. “Sorry, amigos. I’ve got meetings this morning. Ciao.”

He blows a kiss in my direction and is gone before I can say anything else.

Should I raise the tiny matter of payment? I mean so far, they’ve only said I’m to be at their beck and call, and that’s not bad. Workers usually get paid, however.

And would I look better if I ask such important questions?

Franco turns to his brother. “What about you, Toni?”

Antonio has his hands in his pockets and shrugs.

“I don’t have much on this morning,” he says.

“Good. Maybe you can go with Sofia. Use the business credit card to get her whatever she wants. We’ll write some of it off on tax.”

My ears prick up.

Tax. Business talk. Here’s something I’m definitely interested in.

Are they really talking about writing stuff off on tax?

“You sure? I mean...” Antonio starts.

Franco says, “If she’s going to work for us, we’ll call it a uniform. But if we can’t, fuck it. It doesn’t matter.”

He turns to walk out. “Ciao, Sofia. Make sure you treat yourself to something nice. You deserve it. Last night was fucking awesome.”

And now, it’s just Antonio and me. For a few minutes—maybe only seconds—we don’t speak. I don’t know what he’s thinking, and I haven’t got a fucking clue what to do now.

Trouble is, my insides are in total inner turmoil.

I’m struggling to have a clear thought. Part of me would have preferred to be alone.

If I could search the house from top to bottom, I might just find what I’m looking for. Once I’ve got all the intel, I can go again.

Unfortunately, Antonio doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere soon.

I sigh. Time to make the most of what fate has dealt me.

Antonio is good company, and apparently, he’s got a credit card I can use.

If need be, I have access to funds.

The Senator has made sure there’s a secret business account available for me to use on these undercover assignments. It’s only for emergency spending.

If I’m to buy a new wardrobe, shoes and such shit, I might struggle to justify these expenses to the Senator.

When it comes to money, he’s not a man to trifle with. On these missions, I have to account for every dollar spent. So with the money taken care of, what else will I need to do?

There’s the small matter of my mobile phone. It’s dead as a doornail and needs power.

The fastest approach will probably be to buy a new cable this morning. Maybe I can stop at one of those internet cafes where you can recharge your phone as well?

One thing’s sure—if the Senator doesn’t hear from me any time soon, he’s going to flip.

“You in a hurry?” Antonio asks, and I look up at him.

Define in a hurry. I shrug. Of course, I’m in a hurry. I need to find critical information to get you and your brothers behind bars.

I know better than to say this. And so, I just wait for what happens next.