I felt like I was on an episode of Covert Affairs.

It was a television show I got hooked on while living my pretend life on the East Coast. It was about a CIA agent and government conspiracies and working under an alias. It was a little sexy and had a slew of hot guys in it, but the main character, Annie Walker…man, she could kick some serious bad guy ass.

Right now, I felt like channeling her fictional prowess mightn’t be such a bad idea.

I stood in the bathroom in our hotel room and twisted from side to side, looking at my reflection in surprise. The dress Chaser had bought me from the boutique downstairs glittered under the yellowish light. Not bad. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d worn a dress like this. Snorting, I rolled my eyes. I’d never worn a dress like this in my entire life because, until Chaser, I’d done my best to hide from everything. That included thinking I was the ugliest bitch in the world.

Yvette helped me come out of that shell a little, I thought to myself. Then Chaser blew me out of the water.

I’d never taken much stock in my looks. I supposed it was a symptom of a deeper problem, but who knew. My life wasn’t exactly normal.

The strappy gold dress wasn’t exactly something I’d pick out for myself—I’d probably get something black—but it was decent enough. The fabric shimmered under the light as I moved, the neckline scooping down between my breasts. I was borderline popping out, but knowing where we were going, it was probably modest. The hem was mid-thigh, and the matching heels made my legs look like they went on for days. This was what women wore? I tilted my head to the side and made a face. Okay, then… I still preferred my jeans and combat boots.

I combed my fingers through my hair and fixed it into a low ponytail. Dabbing on some makeup, I made myself look as glamorous as I could manage with my limited beauty know-how. With one last glance, I opened the bathroom door and peeked outside.

Chaser was staring out the window at the Halcyon across the street. After we’d checked in, he’d gone off to follow the ‘maybe’ leads he’d gotten from his mysterious informant. When he came back, the only thing he’d been successful with was shopping on my behalf. If our predicament had been different, I would’ve been impressed with his ability to pick out women’s clothing, but I was too preoccupied with our revenge plot. The plot that was sinking faster than a ton of brinks.

He was dressed in a pair of black slacks and a matching black shirt. From behind, he looked less like the hired thug I’d met that first night at Teasers and more like a refined gentleman. I mean, he’d tucked in his shirt. It was a miracle to behold…and his ass looked amazing.

“How do I look?” I asked, edging out into the room.

Chaser turned, and his gaze swept over my body. My thighs clenched together as he lingered on my breasts, and a wave of hunger came over me.

“Sloane…fuck.” He had the look he got when he wanted to strip me off and fuck me like there was no tomorrow. I supposed I didn’t look half bad then.

“Okay?” I smoothed down the shimmery fabric, teetering on the killer high heels.

He took a step forward, and I crossed the room, stopping just short of the bed.

“You look…” He swallowed hard, his gaze lowering again.

I flushed and looked away. “That’s enough. I’ve gone all shy.”

“You, shy?” he scoffed and moved closer. “Shy is the last word I’d use to describe you. Especially the way you moan when my cock’s inside you.”

“Now you’re just being dirty.”

He grabbed my ass and jerked me toward him. My body melded against his, and I couldn’t help feeling his erection pressing into my stomach. We were the same height now, and I loved how I could stare him straight in the eyes.

“One for the road?” he asked with a smirk.

“You want to fuck now? I just got dressed…”

His lips brushed my forehead while his hands traced over my ass. Fingers started to tug up the hem of my dress, and I squirmed, my pussy flaring in anticipation.

“As much as I’d love for you to give me an orgasm, I—”

“Shh.”

“Chaser… I’ve got questions.”

“After…”

“Do you think going to the Halcyon is a good idea? I mean, we aren’t exactly unknown.”

“We don’t have any other option,” he replied. “The only way to hit King is to get him where he shits.”

“This isn’t a Mission Impossible movie.” I scowled. “How are we supposed to get in and get out unseen?” My mouth fell open as I realized what Chaser might be about to ask me to do. “You’re going to use me as bait?”

“I hadn’t thought about it like that, but maybe it isn’t such a bad idea.”

“You’re such a liar.”

“You don’t want to be a femme fatale?” He wound his arm around my waist. “You look the part.”

I tensed, my fingers tightening their grip on Chaser’s shirt. I knew what he was suggesting. Walk into the Halcyon and demand a meeting with King. I couldn’t go in there without anything to offer, so I’d have to sell Chaser out. Chaser for my freedom, or so the ruse went. When would we do it? When I went to meet with him, or when he came to collect? Or would it be at a darker moment?

The Hollow Men wanted me because of my father’s indiscretions, but I’d killed him, ending any brewing war between the two organizations. Could I infiltrate the Hollow Men and gain King’s trust? Could I be a femme fatale and manipulate my way into the enemy’s bed? That was what Chaser was implying.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. We had no other leads, no way in, no allies, and next to no hope of pulling this off and getting out alive. I wasn’t meant to lead Fortitude because I was supposed to do what Chaser couldn’t all those years ago. I was meant to bring the Hollow Men to their knees.

How? I wasn’t a CIA agent. I was just a woman in a whole heap of trouble.

“Chaser…” I swallowed hard. “I can’t.”

“Don’t lose your nerve now,” he murmured. “After all we’ve been through, I know you can do this.”

“You want me to sell you out to infiltrate the Hollow Men?”

“I see we think alike.”

I felt my hands start to tremble, and I looked away. “I can’t… I promised you forever, Chaser. This isn’t forever.”

“I don’t intend to die, Sloane.”

“That’s good.”

“We both know the stakes,” he said. “If we want forever, free and clear, we have to end this as soon as possible.”

“Now or never?”

“The deeper we get, the tougher it is to get out.”

“You don’t have to tell me that. My whole life has been devoted to getting out.”

“Sloane…” He took a deep breath and cupped my face in his big hands. “I don’t want you to get any deeper into this.”

“Then why send me in at all?”

“You’ll go in, ask for the deal, arrange the handover, and that’s when it’ll go down. King will be there in person to see the look on my face.”

“It sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into this. When did you get the time?” I rolled my eyes.

Chaser’s expression darkened. “Do you want forever, Sloane? Or for now?”

“Forever,” I snapped. “Always forever.”

“Then this is the plan.”

“I failed at Fortitude,” I murmured. “What if I fail at this?”

“The time for what-if passed a long time ago. Either you believe or we go into hiding.”

Anger pulsed through me, and I curled my lip in distaste. “Some ultimatum.”

Chaser didn’t reply.

After a moment, I knew my fear was talking. Yeah, I’d screwed up at Fortitude, but being a biker queen wasn’t my calling. This was. It had to be. One last gig before the happily ever after.

“Wanna fuck before we go?”

Chaser narrowed his eyes.

“Just don’t mess up my hair, okay?”

* * *

The Halcyon towered above me, glittering like a steaming turd rolled in glitz and glamour.

This was it. This was my big moment.

Walking through the crowd, I entered the casino, glancing up at the security cameras as I passed beneath them. I didn’t like going into the lion’s den unarmed, but there wasn’t exactly anywhere I could conceal a revolver in this dress.

Behind me, I knew Chaser was tailing me, hidden in the stream of revelers out for a good night. He would follow me across the casino floor as far as he could go without being spotted. Knowing he was there gave me the courage to keep moving.

This is for your forever, Sloane. Don’t forget it. Love like this…it’s worth fighting for. Freedom, love, forever…

I walked across the gaming floor, passing blackjack tables and spinning roulette wheels, reciting my mantra over and over in my mind. Freedom, love, forever…

Glamorous women were draped over the arms of various men, their dresses much more stripper-like than mine. Every so often, I spotted a plant—men with concealed guns and walkie-talkies and even the odd woman encouraging gamblers to put down more money—and gave them a wide birth. I wasn’t going to approach any old thug. I was going for the man at the top. That meant getting to the elevator and pressing the button for the penthouse.

Passing a row of slot machines, I saw a man speaking into a walkie-talkie, his gaze following me. I’d been made. Increasing my stride, I spotted the entrance to the hotel. Man, they made it hard not to gamble in this place. Everywhere I turned, there were bright lights and flashing jackpot signs, all designed to keep impressionable people spending.

“Stay right where you are.”

I froze, almost toppling forward when my heel caught on the carpet. Turning, my eyes widened as I saw a man aiming a gun at me. Movement to my left caught my attention, and I glanced at another man who’d pulled another gun. The same happened on my right, and behind until six drawn weapons surrounded me…one woman in a slinky dress.

Confusion clouded my mind as I spun, glancing from one gun to the next, the neon lights dazzling. Who were they? Hollow Men or renegades? On a level of screwed to fucked, where was I?

I looked for an escape route and stumbled toward an opening. They couldn’t fire in here, so the guns were just a bluff. I kicked off my heels, intending to bolt.

“FBI!” someone shouted. “Hands in the air!”

I whirled around, panic threatening to overcome me. Chaser… Where was Chaser?

“Betty Marini, you are now under arrest on suspicion of first-degree murder.”

“What?” My blood ran cold as I focused on the man in front of me.

“You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”

I blinked at him in shock as my arms were wrenched behind me. Someone patted me down as a pair of handcuffs were slapped around my wrists, the metal biting painfully into my skin.

I thought Gasket had left some guys behind to deal with all that. Unless…oh, no. Unless they were crooked and set me up. Assholes! And now there was nothing I could do to warn them.

The casino swarmed around us, the noise a dull roar to my shocked ears. I felt like I was going to hurl as I was dragged across the gaming floor, thousands of eyes watching my barefoot stripper dressed humiliation. It was over. I was going to rot in prison for life because I was guilty. I’d killed my father. There was no way out. I was powerless and adrift.

Chaser… At least he was free. I hadn’t even gotten upstairs, let alone sold him out. Shit, I shouldn’t have let him talk me into coming here. I knew why he’d sprung it on me. I would’ve fought him on it. Using himself as bait? It was a terrible idea.

Warm air kissed my skin as I was lead out into the humid desert night. FBI agents carved a path through the chaos of Las Vegas, and before I understood where we were going, I was forced into the back of a black van. Two armed agents joined me—one sitting beside me, and one opposite.

The door slammed, causing me to jump, and the guy across from me smirked.

I narrowed my eyes and glanced at the agent next to me, noting where he kept his sidearm. If I could ram the heel of my bare foot into smug face there—preferably in the balls—then I could headbutt the guy on my right, use the momentum to push myself forward and—

“Don’t even think about it,” the agent said, his gaze dropping to my tits. “We don’t want to do something you’ll regret later.”

I sank back against the side of the van, and my shoulders slumped. It was over. It was truly over.

Hello, maximum security.