Page 5 of Ruthless Passion

"Of course, the invoices can be validated. You're actually standing in front of the starring actress of the project." I tell her with my gaze shifting to Josephine.

Agent Shaw spins on her heels, eyeing Josephine from head to toe. "A little young for you, Devlin."

"She's not for me. This is Jo Hansen. She used the stage name, Ruthie Strafford, for the project." The lies fly out of me before I can loop Josephine into what's happening. Fortunately, she doesn't need much direction.

Josephine steps forward, tuning into her improv acting skills. "I didn't want my first film to be a burden on my family. My son's still in grade school and doesn't need the attention or the scrutiny."

A kid?

She doesn't look old enough to be anyone's mother. I'm even more curious.

"I want to see this film, Devlin, with Miss Strafford, Hansen, whatever her name is as the leading lady," Agent Shaw demands, glaring around the room.

"It's still in post-production. I told you there were delays," I tell the FBI Fraud investigator. She could be FBI, but I'm certain she said she was working with the IRS, too. She flashed a badge and credentials, so I let her into my ledgers and accounting. If everything goes according to plan, this investigation of hers is going to add up to a monumental waste of time.

Agent Shaw huffs, pinching the bridge of her nose. "There's plenty of time to get it out of post-production, Devlin. I want to see that film and every other film in this ledger of expenses. You, Mr. Brisco, and every other associate of Mr. Armande Marzano will be hauled in and brought up on charges if you don't."

"What charges?" I ask her in a tone of nonchalance. I won't let this Fed get to me.

"Racketeering Influenced Criminal Organization, Devlin."

"RICO?" I try to be as convincing as I can, feigning confusion. "There's no way you're trying to bring me, a model citizen, in front of a grand jury for a RICO case. This isn't New York or Chicago, Agent Shaw. You're reaching for the stars."

"No, I'm reaching into the bowels of this city and gutting the corruption levied on it by the mob, and all of the mob's known associates," she sneers, slamming her folder shut.

"Daphne, write that down for one of our future scripts," I tell my director with a cocky grin. Still, I won't let the agent say whatever she wants. I tell her, "Watch yourself, Agent Shaw. That's slander. I know you have a job to do, so you'll have a copy of every movie on that ledger, along with the accounting to justify the astronomical expenses it takes to put a movie out."

Agent Shaw rolls her eyes. "Oh please, Devlin. Your movies go straight to those free streaming sites and apps."

I hold a hand up to stop her from speaking. "When you become a producer of films and television shows, you can tell me how to pinch my pennies. Until then, please allow my Luca Brisco Studio liaison to escort you back to the conference room so I can get back to work. Time is money. And don't worry. There will be an invoice in this film's financial portfolio to document every minute you've wasted."

Agent Shaw's irritation is enough to etch a grin onto my face as she leaves. There's panic in Josephine's eyes, while Austin and Daphne are used to Agent Shaw's hysterics by now. Once the agent is out of sight, I peer around the room. "Can you give me the room to speak to Miss Hansen, please?"

They nod and leave me alone with Josephine. Her gorgeous brown eyes dart away from me, reminding me of the bottoms of autumn leaves or sticks of cinnamon.

"I think a formal introduction is in order, Miss Hansen. My name is Luca Devlin." I hold out my hand to shake hers, giving me a reason to touch her again, easing the apprehension in the air.

"Luca, as in Luca Brisco Studios?"

I nod.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Devlin," she says.

"Please, call me Luca. I want to offer you the lead role in the film, Starlight of the Sea. It's about a beautiful siren who shifts between her human form and a vicious mermaid to lure young men to their demise. The men are all guilty of heinous crimes, until she runs into one whose crimes were all to protect and rescue innocent people."

"That sounds like a beautiful love story."

My head tips to the side, remembering the kiss between us. "I never pictured it as a love story. I was going for our typical horror or thriller."

The way her eyes light up when she speaks makes me want to talk to her all day. "Dark horror romance that would play out beautifully on screen. Would I have to do a lot of underwater scenes?"

"I think our post-production and set designer can handle those scenes in a way where you won't have to get wet."

"I don't mind getting wet, Luca." She bites her bottom lip, stepping closer to me. With the door closed, restraint flies out the window as I wrap my hand around the back of her neck, pulling her close to steal a kiss.

Josephine has no idea how much I want to see her wet, dripping for me, and begging me to make her come. My tongue swirls around her mouth. Her moans don't stop me this time. Instead, we move together in the kiss until Josephine's against the wall while my mouth captures hers. When I feel the blood surging through my body, heading straight to my cock, I pull away.

I can't walk out of this room with a hard-on. "Fuck, I'm sorry."

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