Page 6 of Girl, Reformed

But she swallowed the words. Luca didn’tneed this burden. He hadn’t even gotten his badge yet, so the last thing heneeded was to be guilty of having working ears.

Then her phone buzzed. She went to pull itout but thought better of it. It was rude to check your messages in company.

Luca must have picked up on it. ‘Please,get it,’ he said. ‘Might be important.’

‘You sure?’

‘Might be the big man. Lives could be atstake.’

Ella nodded her thanks, pulled out herphone and jabbed at the screen.

One new message.

From Mia.

Dark, call me. Please.

Ella’s blood ran cold. Mia, the woman whothought manners were for weaklings and politicians. Nearly two years togetherand Ella couldn’t remember the last time she’d said please.

‘Can I just make a call real quick?’ sheasked.

‘Go ahead.’

Ella slid back from the table and made herway out of the coffee shop. Her heart kicked into overdrive, palms suddenlyglossy with sweat. The morning air slapped her in the face like a wet towel.

She made the call and Mia picked up on thesecond ring.

‘Dark,’ Mia said. ‘Can you get to myplace?’

The questions came in crushing waves. HadMia figured out the truth too? Did she know Martin wasn’t the charmingmiddle-aged man he appeared to be?

‘What’s wrong?’ Ella asked.

‘It’s Martin. He’s missing.’

Ella's stomach dropped to her toes, kneesweak, vision swirling like a kaleidoscope. She braced herself against the wall.

‘What do you mean, missing?’ she croaked.

'Gone,' Mia snapped. 'Vanished into thinair. No note, no nothing.'

Ella closed her eyes. This was it. Theother shoe, dropping like a goddamn anvil.

Martin was on the move.

‘I’ll be there in thirty minutes,’ Ellasaid. ‘Don’t do anything stupid.’

She hung up before Mia could respond. Shehad to get to her, had to figure out their next move. Before Martin didsomething they couldn't come back from.

But first, she had to deal with Luca.Sweet, clueless Luca. She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. Time toput on her game face, to be the badass FBI agent everyone thought she was.

Ella turned on her heel and marched backinto the coffee shop, her jaw set and her eyes hard as flint. Luca looked up asshe approached.

‘Duty calls?’ he asked.

Ella forced a smile. ‘You’ll get used tomoments like these.’

‘Ha. Rain check on the shooting lesson,then.’ Luca rose from his seat. ‘I should get back. Thank you for the chat.’