Page 18 of Rise of Temptation

I note his use of the words “our side” and wonder, once again, what went down the night of the shipment. But I already know that asking about it is a waste of time. “But none of that is new. That’s not giving me anything to show for my time here.”

“Like I said.” He shrugs. “Maybe you’re just not that good at your job.”

“Or maybe this deal is completely one-sided, and I was never going to get anything out of it except whatever STDs you’ve given me.”

Now he looks offended. “I’ll have you know that I get tested regularly and have never contracted anything.”

“Whatever. I need panties.”

“Absolutely not.”

“I’m not going to my real job dressed for this one. Give me one pair. You can have it back when I’m done.”

“How do I know that you’ll come back?”

“I guess you’ll just have to trust me. I’m sure that’s difficult for you.”

“You have no idea,” he mutters.

“Look,” I say seriously. “No one wants to solve this case more than I do. And my chances of doing that are much better here than they would be behind a desk. Even if you won’t tell me anything.” It’s the truth, and, judging by the way his posture relaxes slightly, he believes me.

“Fine.” He stands and leaves the room, returning moments later with the ugliest pair of underwear I’ve ever seen.

“These aren’t mine.” I take them from him and hold them up. They’re white, cotton, high-waisted granny panties. “I’m not wearing your grandmother’s underwear.”

Enzo smirks and turns to leave again. “I bought them for you to wear in an emergency. Wouldn’t want you to be tempted to steal them so you can wear them whenever you want.”

God, this man. Every interaction with him makes me want to scream and pull my hair out. Still, these are better than showing up to work dressed like a hooker. Barely.

~~~

I haven’t been back to the office in over a month, which means that I’m ambushed by friendly coworkers as soon as I walk in. I brush off questions about what I’ve been doing and where I’ve been. Part of the deal I made to get this case assigned to me is that I can’t talk about it with anyone else. Going undercover as a sex worker is a bit… unorthodox.

Finally, I make it back to my boss’s office. Jack Callahan. He wasn’t fully on board with me taking on this role, but I convinced him that I was the best woman for the job. Now, I have to make sure he doesn’t change his mind.

He looks up from his computer when I knock on the doorframe. “Elise.” He sits back and gestures to the chair in front of his desk. “Come on in.”

I walk in, shut the door, and take my seat. “Good morning, Jack.”

“How’s the case treating you?” Straight to the point, as always.

“I’m fine. Really.” I don’t elaborate, and I don’t think he really wants to know all the ins and outs of my daily life. Pun intended.

“It’s been a while since you had a substantial update for me,” he says.

Making sure to maintain eye contact, I nod. “I know. Information is a slow trickle. But if they’re right about it not being the Bratva, that would be a huge break. There aren’t that many organizations that would have the means and the balls to run a trafficking ring through Club X.”

“And you’re so sure that it isn’t Lombardi? He’s a criminal, Elise. Morals are in short supply.”

“I’m sure.” I know he wants me to explain how I could be so certain, but I’m not going to. I don’t know how to put it into words. As awful as Enzo is, I believe him when he says human trafficking is a line he won’t cross. “My instincts have gotten me this far. I see no reason to stop trusting them now,” I say.

“Without anything substantial, it’s hard for me to argue that you need to stay on this case.”

“Someone has to stay on it, and I’m already here. We can’t just let all those girls suffer because it’s going too slow.” It’s a good reason, but it’s not the only one that matters to me. What I haven’t told anyone—not Jack and especially not Enzo—is that my younger cousin was kidnapped and trafficked when I was in high school. She was only fifteen, and the things they did to her… I don’t know all the details, but I know her body was abused in every way imaginable and was nearly unrecognizable when they found it. My family still hasn’t fully recovered from that loss.

If Jack knew how close to home this case hit, he’d pull me in a heartbeat. Hiding it from him would be grounds for termination, no doubt about it. Enzo likely wouldn’t care, but I don’t ever want to be in a situation where I feel vulnerable enough around him to talk about it. Having that to hold over my head would make him insufferable.

“Fine. I’ll keep you on it as long as I can, but you need to getme something real. And soon. If they tell me to pull you, I won’t have a choice.” He leans forward to put his elbows on his desk. “I know this case is important to you. And I don’t know what you’ve been through, but I don’t want it to all be for nothing.”

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