It wasn’t hard to say goodbye to Chicago. After I served in the army, it didn’t feel like home anymore. It took me a week to gather my things and head south.

Four days after I’d arrived in Florida with all of my belongings in tow and passed the exam for my Florida PI license, I was ready for my first day of work.

I stopped in front of the doorway to ALFA PI and cracked my neck, shaking my hands to calm my nerves. Even though my cousin owned the company, I didn’t want to fuck shit up.

When I pushed the door open, Angel had the phone resting on her shoulder as she jotted down a note.

“I’ll have Mr. Gallo call you as soon as his meeting is over, sir.” She held a finger up.

The wall behind her desk had the company logo with the words Aggressive-Loyal-Fearless-Accurate inscribed underneath. I stared at it for a moment before taking in the rest of the office. Modern interior, gray and black walls, and not a knickknack or file visible. Sunlight streamed in from the wall of windows that comprised the eastern side of the building.

“Hey, Morgan,” Angel said as she hung up. “Thomas is expecting you, and I’m excited to have you here.”

“Thanks, Angel. I hope my cousin is happy too.”

She smiled, rising from her seat. “Oh, he is. They’ve been so busy we’ve had to turn away cases. I know they sure could use your help.” She motioned for me to follow. “Let me show you to his office.”

As we walked down a hallway, a door caught my eye and I stopped.

It read:

Morgan DeLuca

Intelligence Services & Surveillance Specialist

I couldn’t help but feel my insides warm.

“I told you he’s happy to have you,” she whispered.

“I guess so.” I grinned.

Angel touched my arm, breaking my trance. “Come on. You can check your office out after you talk with the boss.” She knocked lightly before entering.

“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Thomas said as he put his feet down. “Morgan is here. I’ll catch ya later. Glad you’re back, man.”

“Thomas,” I said as I walked toward him.

He tossed his cell phone on top of the desk, letting it bounce. He rose to his feet and came around the desk. “It’s good to see you. That was James.” He shook my hand. “He’ll be in tomorrow.”

“I heard.”

“Hey, beautiful,” he said, letting me go and extending his arm to Angel.

She walked to him, snuggled into his side, and kissed his jaw. “You want any coffee or anything, baby?” she asked, looking up at him with a small smile.

“No, thanks, love. Morgan?” he asked before he kissed her head.

“No, thanks. I’m good,” I replied, taking a seat across from my new boss.

One thing I noticed with the Gallo men: They held their women close and often showered them with kisses. I envied them, but I’d never admit it.

Angel walked out, closing the door behind her as Thomas sat back down and I looked around the office.

“See your new office?” he asked as he put his feet back up on the desk, resting his hands behind his head.

I nodded. “I did. Thanks, man. It was beyond cool seeing that.”

“You came at the perfect time. We hadn’t even thought about you until I heard you were coming to the wedding. I did your background check before you arrived.”

“Isn’t that illegal?”

“I have friends who helped me work around the legalities. That’s part of this job. Sometimes we’re on the fringe of breaking laws. I assume you don’t have any problem with that?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

I shook my head. “Never been an issue for me before. I don’t know why it would be now.”

“Sometimes when we have to get information, we use all means necessary.”

“Am I going to be stuck in that office all day?” I asked, wondering if my job title meant “trapped in front of a computer screen.”

“Hell no. God, that would be horrible. You’re going to be going out on jobs like the rest of us. What I had put on your door is your specialty.”

“Gotcha.” I relaxed a little into the chair.

“I already have a case picked out for you, if you’re willing to start as soon as possible.”

“I’m all yours.”

I was ready.

I’d never been the type for idleness, and after having been home for over a month, I wanted nothing more than to dive headfirst into my first case.

I was now Morgan, PI. More handsome than Magnum, and hopefully, I’d do a better job at solving the cases. Maybe I should have grabbed myself one of those flowery shirts he always wore on television. Nah, I’d look like a giant douche. I liked my classic style of blue jeans and T-shirts.

He shuffled through the files on his desk and pulled one out. “Here she is. Her name is Race True,” he said as he handed it to me. “She came in a couple of days ago.”

I opened the folder and scanned the first page. “What’s her situation?”

“I don’t have the entire story. She stated she’d only divulge it to the PI working her case. Basically, she’s been getting harassed, and the messages have become more aggressive.”

“Oh,” I said as I read through her questionnaire.

Thomas’s phone rang, and I continued reading as he began speaking with a client.

Race True was a twenty-seven-year-old woman who worked as a senior contract manager at a downtown communications firm. She’d lived in the Tampa area her entire life, except when she’d attended NYU. She held a master’s degree in business and lived on her own in Clearwater. Not too much information, but at least it narrowed our possible suspects down.

I rested the file on my leg and stared out the window. What could have had this girl jumpy enough about an email to cause her to seek help? Why not just go to the police, report the situation, and let them follow up on the threats?

Thomas sighed and rubbed his forehead as he hung up the phone.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, studying his face.

“Just bullshit from a case I worked on last week. It’s a wife who suspected her husband of cheating. Long story. What do you think of Race?” he asked as he fidgeted in his chair, rocking back and forth.

“Not too much to go on,” I said.

He nodded, setting his lips in a firm line. “I know. Why don’t I show you to your office, tell you a little bit about our rules, and then you can set up a meeting with her?”

I closed her file and stood. “I want to get working right away.”

“Then let’s get you settled,” he said as he rose from his chair and walked around the desk. As he slapped me on the back, he said, “Welcome to the team, Morgan.”

“It’s good to be part of something again.”

* * *

“Ms. True please,” I said to the woman on the other end of the line.

“This is she. With whom am I speaking?” she asked in the sexiest Southern voice I’d ever heard.

“Morgan DeLuca from ALFA PI. I was given your case, ma’am.”

She hissed loud enough for it to catch me off guard. “I hate being called that.”

I made a quick mental note not to make that mistake again. “Sorry,” I said through gritted teeth. “Just trying to be polite, Ms. True.”

“It’s fine.” She sighed. “So, you’re my guy?”

“Yes. I’d like to schedule a meeting to discuss the details you left off your questionnaire.”

“Ah. If you’re going to be working for me, then I’ll share them with you, but no one else.”

“That’s fine.” I tapped the pencil against my desktop. “When are you available?”

“I can meet you tomorrow for lunch. Let’s say noon at the Blue Martini. Do you know where that is?” she asked.

“Yes,” I lied. “I’ll be there at noon.” I’d lived here for a total of ninety-six hours, but I’d find it without trouble.

“Mr. DeLuca.” She cleared her throat. “Please be prompt. I don’t have time to waste waiting around for you.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied before hanging up. I grimaced, knowing she’d probably cursed me because I’d called her that again.

I leaned back in my chair, taking in my new digs. The walls matched the gray ones in the waiting room. On the opposite wall from my desk there was a modern black leather couch, and two chairs were immediately in front of my desk.

My eyes stung from the endless hours of staring at a computer, trying to learn the new programs. I climbed to my feet and stretched before I grabbed my keys. I looked around my office, finally letting it sink in. I had a new purpose and could start a brand-new life. Wanting to say goodbye to Thomas, I headed to his office before leaving.

“Hey,” I said as I opened the door. I froze, seeing more than I expected.

Thomas had Angel bent over the desk with her skirt pulled up and was banging the hell out of her.

Their eyes met mine as I stood in the doorway, unable to move. “Sorry,” I said, finally finding my footing and taking a step backward. I closed the door and took a deep breath. “Fuck,” I muttered as I looked up at the ceiling. “I’ll be back later!” I yelled.

“Take the afternoon off!” Thomas yelled back.

“Thanks.” I had to look like a kid who’d walked in on his parents.

Since I was diving right into work, I figured I’d better get my ass home, my car unpacked, and settle in.

I planned to be there for a very long time.