AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How do you know all of this?” she asks.
Ace shrugs again like this is a normal Saturday morning conversation.
“Let’s just say we uncovered it for personal reasons. But,” he sighs and slides a photo across the table. “That’s him helping Emiliano Rojas kidnap his sister and haul her back to Colombia.”
Stiles’ expression goes wide, and she grabs the photo, staring at it closely. I see the moment realization dawns and anger takes over her girl-next-door features.
”What the hell?”
Ace nods, his lips in a straight line. “He also tried to kill Aria Morgan.”
Nothing registers on her face for a long minute, and I’m watching carefully to see if she’s crooked too.
“Geoffrey Morgan’s daughter. Why?”
Wild Man leans forward, skepticism on his face and in his words.
“You tell us. What do you know about him?”
“Not much. He works for the ATF, but why would he try to kill Morgan’s daughter? Is there something else I should know?”
“Nah,” Wild Man sits back with a charming smile. “I wanted to see if we could trust you.” The lie falls from his lips easily, and I wonder if he saw the same truth I did.
“Thanks for this.” Stiles places a hand over the photo, but surprise flashes when Ace hands her a folder.
She says, “What’s in this for you? Because I know you’re not helping me out of the goodness of your heart?”
She’s ready to make a deal with the proverbial devil to take down a dirty cop because she’s as strait-laced as she seems.
“Nothing.”
Stiles laughs. “I was born at night, Ace, not last night.” She leans forward, her eyes narrowed to slits. “Is this a truce? A partnership? Because I can get down with either of those for a common interest like taking down a corrupt cop.”
She stands, resting her palms on the table, fire burning in her eyes.
Coco arrives, barking his fool fucking head off. He stops at Stiles’ feet and yaps like she stole his favorite pillow.
“Guard dog?” She laughs and shoots Coco a smug smile.
“Don’t piss off the dog,” I warn her, but it’s too late. “Or he’ll piss all over you.”
Coco lifts one leg and pisses all over her black heels.
“Son of a bitch!”
Dix and Banger get a good laugh at the agent’s expense while the rest of us at least attempt to keep our smiles back.
“Good boy,” Banger mumbles and feeds Coco a strip of bacon.
Ace stands and moves Agent Stiles away from the piss.
“This is an act of goodwill for the future,” he tells her honestly. “We’re working on our own plans, so it’s up to you, Agent Stiles, to get to the LTC before we do.”
Before Stiles can plead her case, Dix steps up beside Ace. “Save your breath, Fed. We can’t work with you because it will kill Valentina, and I won’t let that happen. Period.”
She nods as if she understands. “And Aria Morgan? Where does she fit into all this?”
“We don’t know,” Ace says easily. “She’s safe right now, and we’ll make sure she stays that way.”
