Page 62 of Undercover Desires

“In his office. What did you say to him?” Brandon inquires, looking me over.

“I think I might have hit a nerve. Is there something I’m missing here? Why did he blank out when we found out about the girl?” I study Brandon, awaiting his reaction. If I’m sticking around, I need to know what his story is.

Brandon sighs heavily, and I can see the weight of the memories in his eyes. “His mom died of a drug overdose when he was young. He and his brothers despise drugs. It’s why they’veworked so hard to eliminate the bad ones from this town. Jett’s pretty sure what Marini was on tonight is called Euphoria X, and it’s a banned substance in this town, not by the police but by these guys.”

The revelation hits me hard. His mom... My heart sinks for him. How tragic. They all lost their mom to an overdose, and suddenly, everything falls into place. “That’s the drug that killed Detective Reader’s daughter. He said these guys had something to do with it.”

Brandon’s face contorts with anger. “No way in hell that information is correct.”

Tears well up in my eyes, and I can’t control them any longer. I’m not sure if it’s the overwhelming emotions of talking to my cousin, who bears such a striking resemblance to my father, or if it’s the weight of what I’ve learned about Kobe’s perception of me, coupled with the horrifying events of tonight. It all becomes too much to bear. “I feel like such a naive idiot,” I cry into my hands.

Brandon pulls me closer, offering comfort. “You’re new here, and the things going on in this town go back generations. You couldn’t have known all the details.”

“But I should have. I should have looked into Reader’s story more, not just taken his word for it. It’s my job to know all the facts.”

“It’s hard when a superior lies to you, trying to manipulate you before you have time to gather the truth,” Brandon points out.

I nod, realization dawning. That’s precisely what happened. Reader saw me coming, knowing I was new in town, and he exploited my inexperience. It infuriates me that men in power like Reader believe they can manipulate others at will, using them to achieve their goals. He made me look foolish in front of these guys and, potentially, anyone else at the police station whoknows about my mission. He also intentionally put me in harm’s way. The thought makes me furious.

“What are you going to do?” Brandon asks, concern in his features. He’s worried about me.

I offer him a half-smile, grateful for his compassion. “Kobe told me to leave and not come back.”

His brow raises in question. “You’re going to listen to him?”

Brandon’s right, I don’t have to leave tonight just because Kobe told me to. It’s not what he really wants. He was just angry. “Maybe not?”

He nods, motioning for me to go find him.

“Thanks,” I reply, so grateful. When I first saw him tonight, I felt sick to my stomach. I knew Kobe was setting me up and that I was screwed, but what I didn’t expect was for Brandon to be caring.

“I meant what I said earlier. I want to help you with our nanna’s house. Can I come around tomorrow? We can catch up properly, and I’ll see what I can do.” Brandon’s offer of help catches me by surprise, and I’m genuinely touched.

Something inside of me wants to say no. Act like I have this on my own. But I’m so tired of trying to do it all alone. I can’t do it anymore. “Thank you. That would be nice.” I offer a small smile then turn away from him, looking up the hall. I take a deep breath, trying to prepare for what I’m going to find.

With a sense of purpose, I head down the hall toward Kobe’s office, unsure of what to say. I reach his door and knock, waiting for a response, but there’s none. I knock again. “Kobe, it’s me, Bella. Can I come in?”

Still nothing. He’s not making this easy.

I decide to take matters into my own hands and shove the door open, finding Kobe at his desk. He’s reclined with his head back, feet propped up, and a glass of amber liquid in his hand. He leers at me, clearly unimpressed that I’m interrupting his apparentpity party. Ignoring his annoyance, I let myself in and close the door behind me. “We need to talk.”

“Nothing left to say,” he responds, his voice dripping with apathy.

“I think we both know that’s not true,” I assert, coming around to stand beside his desk and leaning against it, indicating that I’m not going anywhere.

“What were you and Brandon talking about all hushed in the hallway?” he asks, his gaze shifting to me and then over to his computer screen, revealing that the surveillance is focused on the hallway where we were just talking. Creepy asshole.

“Were you watching me?” I question, a mixture of surprise and frustration in my voice.

“I watch you all the time, Bella. You’re hard to take my eyes off,” he confesses, his lips turning up at the sides. He’s not worried about me knowing it either.

My brows furrow, as I find his words unsettling. “Do you realize how creepy that sounds, Kobe?”

“I don’t give a flying fuck,” he says, completely unapologetic about it. “Ever since you strutted into this place in that sexy white dress, I’ve been obsessed with you. You invade all my thoughts; you’re driving me crazy.”

“Instead of watching me, you could have told me that.”

“You don’t get it, do you? I don’t do this kind of thing. I don’t get all sentimental over a girl, chasing after her like a lost puppy needing a home, because I don’t need a damn home. This place is my home, and it gives me everything I need. All the action I could ever want. Until you.” He glares at me as his words sink in. Is this him confessing his undying love? He has a funny way of doing it. He shakes his head and swigs his drink, pointing the empty glass in my direction. “You came into my life, and all of that went away. I’m obsessed with you, and you’re a cop here toruin my life. And you will, won’t you, the first chance you get,” he demands, shaking his glass at me.

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