It’s after 8 p.m., and The Grand Hotel is finally starting to wind down. I’d been doing menial housekeeping for the last few hours waiting for a chance to get in and debrief. It’s not like in the movies where you can just show up in the right clothes and go unnoticed.

This is a big place, with lots of staff, but often, the same people run the different departments. I must have a decent cover here or it just wouldn’t work.

I don’t mind a little busy work here and there. It’s all part of the job. Now that it’s getting quiet, I can finally slip away to room 696 and use my private key.

As I scan myself in, I hear the unmistakable click of a weapon behind the door. I rap three short knocks and one long one, the secret code.

As I slip quickly through the door, I nod to the agent putting his gun away and move past him into the room. He slips by me into the hall, leaving me alone with the senator.

He’s sitting at his desk with his back toward the balcony, and I approach quickly to debrief. I have researched and compiled the data, double checking it for accuracy. I know it’s accurate.

The dick would have sold me his own heart if I’d asked.

Still, being thorough is my job. It’s why I’m the best. I make sure every word they scream at me in lust or anger is completely true before handing it in.

I hand over the small memory stick as the senator places a large case on the desk without getting up. He’s making notes and has a few files neatly stacked in front of him.

I take my case of cash from him and place it on the floor by my feet. I lean over the desk, placing my hands flat on the hard wood, grinning at the senator, letting my smile soften up my eyes a bit.

Every man I see thinks this is a genuine smile. They also think it’s just for them. Simple bastards.

“You know how I don’t like to mix business with pleasure,” I say gently, still smiling a little coyly. “So I’ll keep shop talk to a minimum. The last job may have gone off without a hitch, but there were potential complications. He has accomplices, which will continue the crime ring even without him. I want your permission to go after them.”

Even though it’s technically a question, I wasn’t really asking for permission. I’m asking him to cover my moves should I decide to act alone. He’s always backed me in my private enterprises.

No matter what he says though, I make up my own mind. I use a firm voice. I want to take this ring down, and I’d prefer to do it with his support and financial backing.

He organizes a few papers before looking up at me.

“I appreciate your hard work on this case. I know how you’re driven to complete your missions and any…ah…loose ends that may arise as a result. However, I have a family of brothers I need you to investigate next.”

The senator pulls out three headshots and places them on the desk.

“They’ve taken over their father’s business some time ago. Marco is the new head, running the loans and other things that go with this. Franco’s in charge of the prostitution rings. Antonio’s responsible for the casinos the Monatello family owns, as well as the gambling outfits.”

He points at each brother as he gives me their names and, at the mention of Franco’s business, I feel my hands clenching so tight, my nails bite into my palms.

Scum. They’re all fucking scum.

I file the henchmen on the previous job as a lower priority. They can taste my metal in the shadows another night. I have fresh prey now.

The senator laughs.

“I see your face, Sofia. I know you want to just sneak up on these fellows and cut their throats. But this is not a simple job. I need to know how the operation works. We know about these guys, but we don’t know all their employees and runners. They’re drug dealers, murderers, rapists, and people smugglers. I don’t just want to stop the three big guys at the top— that won’t halt the entire machine.”

“The big fellas also have significant legal cover. I could bring them in and they could walk away a few hours later. No. We need deep intel here. Not just on these men, but on all the people working under them. They have lots of people doing their dirty work for them, and I want to get them all. Ideally, we get some of them dead to rights and then we can get them to squeal on the big cats at the top. Do you understand, agent?”

The whole time I’m standing there, I get more furious by the second. The amount of innocent lives being destroyed by these pricks makes my blood boil.

Outwardly however, I’m calm. I’m very well-trained, and I’m not happy about my earlier momentary lapse. The mention of smuggling and forced prostitution raises a grief I cannot ignore.

Still, I will need to work harder on my discipline. It’s a core aspect of my job to hide my true feelings, and I should be able to do it better. If I do it in the wrong room, I’m dead.

“I understand, boss. I will comply.”

I lean on the desk with both hands again as I look over the photos. The senator reaches over and covers one of my hands with his. His eyes linger over my exposed cleavage, part of the reason I was leaning over the desk.

Using my sexuality to keep men on their toes—or under my control—has never been a problem for me.

“You understand the job? You’re sure? You may be in deep cover for a while. You can’t just kill them.”

I look into his eyes steadily.

“This is what I do best. I don’t fall in love. I’ve seen enough of it to know what a bad joke it is. Besides,” I say, giving him a slight hair toss and treating him to a grin and a wink, “who could handle me if I did?”

He chuckles and squeezes my hand a little urgently. “As an agent, Sofia, you’re impeccable. As a woman, you’re awfully hard work.”

I can see his eyes raking over my curves, nicely displayed in the fitted maid’s uniform. I can practically feel the heat rising from him as he drinks me in.

I make my grin just a bit wider, a bit more welcoming and sexy. He falls for it.

The fool actually smiles back and squeezes my hand again. He begins to run his hand up my arm, stroking me lightly. I lean forward and use my deep throaty voice to whisper close to his ear.

“You know I’m completely worth it though. Where’s the fun without just a bit of hard work?”