Page 61 of Forbidden Hearts

“Right,” Jacob says. “Well, I have an army of men waiting for marching orders. If you need them to cause a distraction, they can do that.”

The problem is, I’m not ready to give up Alex just yet.

These past couple of weeks have been amazing. For the first time in a long time, I am no longer bitter and angry over the death of Esmeralda. I still think about her occasionally, but it’s less frequent now.

At first, I thought it would be a real tragedy to wake up one day and not think about her at all. But now, I wake up most mornings with Alex by my side, and I know Esmeralda would approve. She always wanted me to be happy.

“When I think of a use for your men, I’ll let you know,” I say.

“Okay,” he says. “I just want to get this over with as soon as possible. There’s a new business opportunity that I want to explore, but I can’t fully commit to it until we find the rat.”

“I’ll find them,” I say.

Jacob pauses and looks me straight in the eye. “It’s strange that the rat hasn’t fed any more information to the feds. Do you think he knows you’re onto him?”

“I doubt it,” I say, knowing full well that Alex doesn’t suspect a thing. What I’m curious about is why she felt the need to interfere with Jacob’s operation. It feels like she wanted to punish him for something and backed off as soon as the punishment was dealt.

“I hope you’re right,” Jacob says. “By the way, how are things going?”

Things?

I must have shown my feelings on my face because Jacob straightens up and says, “I was just wondering how things are going. You haven’t been here in a while, so…”

“Just busy,” I say, thinking about Alex. Fuck. Every time she steps into my thoughts, I long to see her in the flesh. “Just investigating this problem of yours. It keeps me busy.”

“You must be working too hard. Would you like a few girls to help you release some stress?”

“I thought Ben said this wasn’tthattype of business,” I say, amused at his offer.

“Well, it’s more of a side hustle for now. Nothing to do with Ben or The Den,” he clarifies.

“I see. Thanks, but no thanks. I already have a treat waiting for me at home,” I grin. I wonder what Jacob would think if he knew I’m seeing his former employee, and that I’m the reason she’s no longer working here.

There’s a flicker of annoyance in Jacob’s eyes.

“Lucky you, then,” he says with a fake smile.

And just like that, whatever emotion is rattling in his brain is gone as quickly as it came. But I’m not an idiot. I noticed it.

What is Jacob’s deal?

???

Alex is waiting for me in bed when I arrive at my cabin. She’s reading a book, but the tiny lingerie she’s wearing tells me she has other plans for tonight.

“Professor,” she says, licking her bottom lip and placing her book face down on the nightstand. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

She’s doing her innocent student voice again. She started doing it after the fourth time she visited me during office hours. At first, I thought it was a little silly, but now it does something for me. It gets me working because I know too well that Alex is anything but innocent.

The look on her face instantly makes me hard for her.

“I thought we were finishing the movie from earlier,” I say, stepping into the bedroom.

“I have something else in mind,” she says.

This woman. Where has she been all my life?

“What do you have in mind, Ms. Walker?” I ask, removing my suit jacket and setting it on a chair by the door. “Have you finished your studies?”

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