Page 3 of Girl, Reformed

But who? Mia was out of the question. Howcould Ella look her best friend in the eye and tell her that her boyfriend wasa murderer? That the man she'd let into her bed, into her heart, was astone-cold killer?

It would destroy her. Destroy theirfriendship. And then where would Ella be? Alone, that's where. Alone with hersuspicions and her guilt and her goddamn spinning hamster wheel of a brain.

She couldn't do that to Mia. Couldn't laythat burden on her shoulders. But she couldn't keep this to herself either. Itwas too big, too heavy. It would crush her.

Could she take it to the director?Possibly, but what would she tell him? That she suspected a former agent ofbeing a serial murderer? It was a long shot, because other than a blurry shapeon some CCTV footage, Ella’s evidence for this accusation was sorely lacking.The director already thought she was crazy, so pointing fingers without proofwasn’t going to get her anywhere.

Ella paced like a rat in a maze. She wasin too deep now, no doubt about it. But what the hell was she supposed to do?She needed to talk this out, get some perspective before she lost her goddamnmarbles. Mia was off the table, and spilling confidential FBI dirt to herroommate was a one-way ticket to unemployment.

Then, like a bolt from the blue, it hither. Luca. The new guy at the Bureau, fresh meat with a pretty face. They'dcrossed paths a few days back, made noises about grabbing a coffee sometime.Well, some time was now.

Getting out of her apartment would do hergood. Maybe she wouldn’t spill all of the details to Luca since she barely knewthe man, but the primal act of being in the company of another might give hersome perspective.

Ella snatched up her phone and fired off atext before she could talk herself out of it. Her thumb hovered over the sendbutton, nerves jangling like alarm bells. But what did she have to lose? They’dbriefly spoken yesterday about meeting up, but without a date and locationlocked in, plans had fizzled to intentions and then died a death.

She busied herself around the apartment,trying to burn off the restless energy and the reply-anxiety. The higher-upshad put her on mandatory R&R after the case in Maine, but lounging aroundin her sweatpants wasn't doing her any favors. She needed to move, to dosomething, anything to keep the gears in her head from grinding themselves todust.

Her phone buzzed, and Ella pounced on itlike a starving dog on a pork chop. Luca's name flashed on the screen.

Free for a couple of hours. Shall we grabthat drink?

Ella couldn’t type fast enough. Yes,please. How about Nico's in 30 mins?

The seconds crawled by. Ella chewed on herlip and tasted blood.

Then, finally, a response. Deal. Seeyou there.

Ella let out a breath she hadn't realizedshe'd been holding. She glanced at the clock, calculated how long it would takeher to get presentable. She couldn't roll up to Nico's looking like somethingthe cat dragged in.

She wasn’t sure how to broach the subjecton her mind, or whether it was a wise idea to do so at all. But one thing wasfor sure, she couldn’t just sit on her hands and wait for the sky to fall. Itwas time to take action, to do something before this whole mess blew up in herface.

And she had to remind herself of anotherthing.

This wasn’t a date. Definitely not.

CHAPTER TWO

Ella flicked from the clock to thedoor and back again. She'dgotten to the coffee shop early, hoping to snag a few minutes of peace beforeLuca showed up. But now, with each passing second, her nerves were windingtighter than a watch spring.

Was it the Martin situation that had heron edge, or the thought of seeing Luca again? Ella wasn't sure she wanted toknow the answer.

She scanned the room for the hundredthtime, taking in the usual assortment of hipsters and hausfraus. She hadn’tordered herself anything, had to give her excuses to the eager waitress twicealready. She didn’t want Luca to think she was the selfish type. The least shecould do is buy him a welcome-to-the-freakshow coffee.

Then the door chimed, and in walked afamiliar face. Ella was suddenly reminded of the James Bond scene where DanielCraig emerges from the water, dreamily wet.

Luca was wearing a brown leather jacketthat looked like it had been poured onto his frame, the kind of thing thatbelonged on the cover of GQ. His hair was slicked back, not a strand out ofplace, and his jaw had just the right amount of stubble to make Ella's pulsekick up a notch.

Christ, she told herself, Mr. April inthe flesh.

Luca sauntered up to the counter, flashingthe barista a smile that probably made the lucky woman’s ovaries explode. Heordered something, then turned and headed straight for Ella's table.

‘Sorry I'm late,’ he said as he gave her agentle handshake. Ella thought about leaning in and kissing his cheek, but thatwas probably a tad too far. ‘Traffic was a nightmare.’

Ella waved it off, trying to play it cool.‘No worries. I appreciate you coming.’

Luca grinned, and Ella felt it like a shotof bourbon straight to the bloodstream. ‘Are you kidding? I'm honored. I'veheard all about the famous Agent Dark.’

Ella raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging atthe corner of her mouth. ‘I certainly hope not. My reputation can't take anymore hits.’

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