When He's Dirty, стр. 16

“We’re not going. Your father has a big case that just fell in his lap and I’m not leaving him here alone.”

I set my food aside and sit up, legs back on the floor. “Mom, it’s dangerous. This case is dangerous.”

“We can’t run every time you have a dangerous case. And I don’t have time for a debate right now. We’re at Eddie V’s, about to have dinner with one of the partners and he just walked in.”

“You at least need to hire security,” I say, but it’s too late. She hung up.

Frustrated, I consider calling my father in the morning, or even going to see him, but where will that get me? Nowhere besides putting more attention on my parents if I’m being watched. I rotate back into my comfy spot, eat my meal and when I’m done, I walk into the bathroom, dig in my purse, and pull out the napkin Rafael gave me. I carry it back to bed with me, lay it down next to my gun, and study the neat, controlled, masculine script. Control is a good word. I believe he’s a man of great control. I have skills, he’d said. I’m curious about those skills, on a personal and professional level. Could I trust private security to protect the high-profile critical witnesses more than law enforcement? No, I think and settle back against the headboard, sipping my wine before googling “Walker Security,” and what I find is impressive. Both reluctantly and with hope, as contradictory as those things sound, my “no” becomes a “maybe.” Maybe, just maybe, Rafael is the answer to my problems.

I consider calling Blake Walker now, but it’s later in New York than here. I need to sleep on this idea, and Lord help me, I’ll have to convince Ed to pay for their services. That’s not a task to attempt without doing my homework first. I add Blake’s number to my phonebook in my cellphone and then do the same with Rafael’s. I almost, so very almost, text him a thank you for walking me home.

But that’s a bad idea. It’s an invitation for another kiss I might crave, but do not dare allow myself, especially if we’re about to be professionally attached. I clear my work to the empty side of the bed, the side that’s always empty and needs to stay that way, turn out the light, and lay there staring at the ceiling, listening to every tiny sound. I need a dog, a big dog that knows how to cuddle me and kill an intruder. Of course, I’m never home, so that can’t work. I settle my phone on my chest and force my eyes shut.

***

ADRIAN

It’s on the north side of midnight and I’m at the dining room table Lucifer has set-up with the security feed, eating pizza with him and Adam, when Savage walks in, grabbing a seat next to me. “Deleon’s a slippery bastard.” He snatches up a slice of pizza. “I hate slippery bastards. Every lead Blake gave me came up dry.”

“He’s hunting,” I say, tossing away the crust to my last slice, suddenly losing my appetite, “and he’s a hell of a good hunter.”

“Hunting you,” Savage says. “Until a few days ago, you were in New York. How do we know he’s not there, instead of here?”

“He’s too smart to come to my territory,” I say. “He wanted me to come to him.”

“And here you are,” Adam says. “Now what?”

A flash of Pri’s pretty blue eyes drowning in fear flashes through my mind. “We need the list of witnesses. We follow that trail.”

“What about Agent Pitt?” Savage asks, already reaching for another slice of pizza. “Ask him.”

“The US Marshals handle witness protection,” I say. “I need Pri to give us that list.”

Adam arches a brow at me from across the table. “You’re going to ask her for the list, Rafael?”

“What does his brother have to do with this?” Savage asks.

“He told her his name was Rafael,” Lucifer offers.

“Oh shit,” Savage murmurs. “She’s going to be pissed when she finds out who you are.”

“It was necessary,” I say, tipping back my beer and taking a slug before I add, “I told her I’m with Walker. I told her we can help. If she calls, we know she’s not only legit, but not being bribed or threatened to turn over witnesses to Deleon, which includes me.”

“And if she doesn’t call?” Adam asks.

“We figure out if she’s dirty or in trouble, and act accordingly.”

“Any chance Pitt has the list and you don’t know it?” Lucifer asks.

“Doubtful,” I say, pulling my phone from my pocket, “but worth trying.” I punch in Pitt’s autodial on speakerphone, because unlike anyone in my FBI days, at least my latter days, I trust these assholes. The question is, will they trust me when they discover all that went down with me and Waters?

Pitt answers on the second ring. “Hola,” he answers. “What’s cooking, man? You ready to come forward? Or at least meet the ADA?”

Considering Pri and I together make a bigger target, that’s not something I’m willing to go on record with just yet. “I need to know who’s on the witness list outside of me of course.”

“I don’t have that list,” he says. “You know that. The DA’s office is guarding the list, but there must not be anyone overly hot, or she wouldn’t want you so damn badly. Come in. Meet her.”

“Not yet,” I say. “Get me the list and then we’ll talk. Gotta run.” I disconnect, thankful as fuck that Blake scrambles our phone location with whatever magic he works.

“You didn’t tell him you’re here,” Adam says. “Interesting.”

“He’s dirty,” Lucifer says. “I feel it straight to my fucking bones.”

My mind is back on Pri and her distrust of law enforcement that clearly has a valid place in this story.

“Ditto,” Savage says. “Pitt’s dirty. I wonder if he’s a bleeder. Wanna find out?”

“I do,” Lucifer says. “I wanna find out.”

“He’s not