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I need to come clean today.
Abouteverything.
They’ll be furious, but it can’t be the first time an undercover operative got too close. There will be protocols to deal with it—meetings to be had—but in the end, we’ll still get our woman…
We’ll still bring down Alessa.
Oh, God.
“Miller?” Bell says with a frown. “We weren’t expecting you this morning.”
“No, but I…” I begin, my voice wavering only slightly, “I’ve got some new intel.”
Every eye in the room is suddenly fixed on me, and I take a steadying breath before plunging ahead. “I haven’t had a chance to file a report yet, but…well, last night, I gained access to the secret casino hidden within the Ruby Realm.”
A collective gasp echoes around the table, followed by a wave of excited murmurs. My heart sinks even lower. They’re thrilled, just as I’d expected. And why wouldn’t they be? We’ve been chasing Alessa de Luca’s criminal operation for months, and now we have our chance to dismantle it.
“This is huge, Miller! This is exactly the break we’ve been waiting for.” Bell stands in excitement, eyes lit with triumph. His enthusiasm ignites a chorus of concurrence from our unit.
Chang does a fist pump. “Way to go, Miller!”
“Wait,” I say desperately. “Wait—I…”
This is it.
This is the time to admit that I’ve slept with the target. Not evenonce, but twice, and it was only that sexual contact that let her feel comfortable enough with me to reveal the illicit business in the basement.
“I need to tell you something,” I say heavily.
They all stop. They all stare. “What is it?” Rish Khalil asks sharply.
“I…” I take a breath. And then another. “I didn’t get any photos, or actual hard evidence—I didn’t have the chance—”
Liar.
I’ll speak to Bell later, I promise my conscience. Speak to him privately, let him know alone.
My weak warning doesn’t seem to dampen down the enthusiasm at all. Even Khalil smiles broadly. “We’ll get it,” she says confidently. “You just handed us de Luca on a silver platter.”
I wince.
But no one notices. The team continues making plans for our next steps, their voices overlapping with excitement. I paste an expression of professional detachment on my face, nodding along with the eager strategizing. But inside, my thoughts run in anguished circles.
All I can picture is Alessa’s face when she realizes thatI’mthe one who did this.
And what of the girls needing help from Alessa’s network, their futures now destroyed?
The relief funds for the charities that Alessa supports?
The soup kitchen—oh God—where I gave out food myself to people in need?
And Alessa’s parting words echo through my mind:Text me when you’re home safe.
I never texted her.
The realization cuts deep. She’s probably worried, watching her phone for reassurance that I’m alright—while I’ve been moving all the pieces into place for her downfall.
What have I done?
