Page 67 of Undercover Desires

“Why are you so dressed up if you’re working from home?” I ask her, noticing her blouse and tailored pants.

“Oh shit. You two distracted me. I have a video call with… with my boss.” She looks guilty.

“Don’t let us hold you up. We’re just here to help you out, maybe get that car up and running. Or whatever you need a hand with,” Brandon offers.

“Thank you.” She scratches her head. “I don’t even know where to start. So much needs to be done around the place.”

“How about we take a look at the car while you do your work call, and then we can go from there.”

“Okay. If you need money for parts, I have a little saved up,” she offers.

“I’ll see what we can do first.” He smiles, opening the front door and looking at me to follow him. I already know Brandon won’t let her pay a cent; he has the money, and he’s going to help her out wherever sheneeds it. She might have hated me for calling him, but I know I did the right thing. She needs him. She needsus.

“I might stay and listen in on the call,” I say, watching her face for a reaction.

Her eyes go wide, then she closes the gap between us, placing her hands on my chest and trying to shove me out the front door. “No fucking way, Kobe. I’m already risking my career to help you. That’s enough. If you stay in here, I won’t be able to concentrate, and it will give me away.”

I know she’s probably right, but I would kill to know what they talk about. I place my hands on hers, adjusting them so she’s forced to hold my hands. “I’ll be outside if you need me,” I grumble, unimpressed.

“Thanks, but I won’t,” she sasses, looking up at me like she wants to kiss me. I’m fucking dying to, but I refrain, with Brandon waiting for me.

Reluctantly I step away from her and follow Brandon out to the yard, looking over the rundown vehicle. “Do you know anything about cars?” I ask him, hoping to God he does.

“Yeah, a little,” he says, cracking open the shed off to the side of the house. It’s much like the rest of the place, all neat and tidy but ancient.

I hear Bella answer Reader’s call, and I listen in. Her voice sounds strained. She wasn’t bullshitting us last night. She hates this guy. My protective instincts kick in. I want to go to bat for her, but I know I have to hold my tongue for now.

Leo’s words from this morning come back to me.We will work out what this motherfucker is up to anddestroy him, but we have to bide our time, do it right.He’s right, so for now, I just listen in.

CHAPTER 28

ARABELLA

I answer Reader’s call,still feeling a little uneasy about Kobe and Brandon being outside, even though they’re out front. Detective Reader’s face comes into view on the screen. “Morning,” I greet him with a tight smile. After everything I found out last night, he’s the last person I want to talk with today. Or ever again, really. He’s a liar, and he used me.

“I’m sorry to hear about your ex-boyfriend. What a terrible accident,” Detective Reader offers his condolences without even a greeting.

“Oh. Um, thank you,” I say awkwardly. Reader’s the last person I want to talk to about what happened to Wyatt. “How did you hear about him?” I inquire, a little taken aback that he knows more about my life than I would like him to.

“The LAPD called here looking for you, and the call was put through to me. Before we get started on your findings, I thought you should know something has also come up from the accident.”

“What?” I ask, feeling uneasy. Is he about to fire me because he knows what my ex-boyfriend was involved in when he was younger? That hardly seems relevant now.

“His new girlfriend visited his apartment for the first time to clean it up for him and found some pretty disturbing stuff. She contacted the police in LA, and they have passed the information on to me now, as it relates to you,” Detective Reader reveals, his tone serious, and the look in his eyes makes my stomach roll with nausea.

“Okay, what did she find? I’m not sure why this is something I need to know,” I respond, trying to maintain my composure. I have been trying not to think about Wyatt. This is bringing it all back up.

“It is because it all revolves around you, Arabella.” Detective Reader’s voice is grave as he continues. “Your ex-boyfriend had an obsession with you. He has sex tapes, images of you sleeping and showering. From what she found on his computer, it looks like he was stalking you well after your relationship ended.”

My stomach sinks. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I stare back at the screen, looking for evidence this is a sick joke, but Detective Reader’s expression is stern. I’m so confused. I never participated in any sex videos, and he wouldn’t have invaded my privacy like this. Wyatt had his issues, but they all centered around his addiction. “No, we didn’t...” I begin, but he cuts me off.

“He had a hidden camera in your bedroom,” Detective Reader reveals with pity in his eyes, and I feel like the world is collapsing around me. I’m stunned, unable to find words to express my shock and disgust. I feel like I’m going to be sick.

“Are you okay?” he asks, his tone disconcertingly casual.

“No! This is disturbing on so many levels,” I finally manage to utter, my voice trembling.

“I’m sure it is. In our line of work, you really should have known better and checked your surroundings. There is no excuse for something like this to ever happen,” he admonishes. Like somehow I’m to blame for my fucked-up ex-boyfriend and his stalking tendencies.

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