Alana

For the last two days, things have been amazing between Tony and I, but I knew he was hiding something. His voice getting loud and rough on the phone woke me up the other night. By the time I got to the office, I heard Tony say that someone is using people close to someone to get to him.

Simms popped into my head immediately. I thought about the way he’d been so damn furious with me when I refused to keep up the charade. Then he threatened to out me, which I was sure he did. As I laid on the beach in the sun with my tablet in hand, I thought about how the conversation came up about the undercover operation.

“Alana, you know you’re going to make a great cop one day. Have you ever considered going into undercover work?” Greg asked me while we were having a cup of coffee after school.

“What do you mean? I’m not even old enough to go into the academy.”

He tapped his fingers on the counter, then asked, “Have you ever heard about the special program done with high school students?”

“No, what program?”

“Well, high school students can become informants for the drug busts in the schools. They get in with the crowds and learn where the drugs come in from.”

“Wow, for real?”

“Yes. Well, I have an opportunity that I think you’d be perfect for.”

“What kind of opportunity?”

“It would be something like that program, but since you just graduated it would be in the outside world and a bit seedier than you’d be accustomed to. However, I want you to know that it could lead to the animal that killed your father and shot me. But this has to be a secret.”

“I don’t have any friends,” I reminded him.

“I mean from anyone. This is an ultra secret project. I’ll have your back, but you’ll only have me for a contact.”

“This will get the guy that killed my father?” I asked, excited and frightened at the same time.

“He’s connected to the one who killed your father. He’s dangerous but has connections to get out of trouble.”

I took a drink of my coffee, then answered with a stiff back, “I’ll do it.”

And that was the start of the mess, I’d gotten in overnight.

“What’s on your mind, love?” I turned to see Tony staring at me.

“What do you mean?” I asked him. How could he tell I was thinking about something unpleasant?

He pointed to my tablet and said, “You haven’t changed the page in five minutes. What’s on your mind?” He crossed his arms and raised his brows, waiting for me to reply but I was still trying to think of how to say it.

“Um, I’ve been thinking about Simms and the undercover project he put me through.”

“Yeah, what about it?” I could tell that he was very curious.

I bit my lip because I was scared to know the answer. “He told me that you would lead me to my father’s killer.”

“Hmm…interesting.”

“Interesting, what?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t nothing me. You know something. I know you do. I heard the end of your angry call.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“It woke me up, but then you ended the call right after I walked up to the door, so I went to bed. I don’t know what you were talking about other than someone is trying to get to you.”

“Yes, your cop friend,” he scoffed. I wasn’t even going to go there about the friend thing. I wanted nothing to do with Greg.

“I had a feeling that’s who you were talking about,” I muttered.

“Then why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I countered back at him.

“Touché,” he hissed.

“Is there anything you know that I should know?” I asked, this time crossing my arms in irritation.

“I do, but I don’t think it’s best to tell you yet.”

“Why? Don’t think I can handle it?” I get that he was protective of me and I loved it, but my mind was too damn curious for my own good.

“Exactly. I need to know why he’s after me. You’re not the only person he’s sent recently. I’m his target, and I’m not sure why, but my men are working on it. When I know more I’ll let you know. That I can promise.”

“So when do we go back home?”

“I’m going to take us back tomorrow. I have a club to run that I’ve been seriously neglecting.”

“Okay.”

“What’s a matter? You don’t like the club, do you?”

“Naked women everywhere sounds wonderful to me,” I said, my voice laced with sarcasm. “You’re out all night with broads that take money to be naked. Yep, I love it.”

He grabbed me around the waist and lifted me into his arms. “You’re the only woman I want to see naked. I’ve never done anything with any of those women and I wouldn’t, but if you want me to shut it down and open something else, I will.”

“No, it’s your business.”

“No, you’re my business. And making you happy will keep it afloat.” He carried me back inside and made love to me on the sofa. I felt silly for being jealous. Maybe I needed to grow up and run it like I owned the place. That way no broad would try and get in between us. I was afraid I might become more like Tony every day. Perhaps I could have Vinny take me to a shooting range.