Page 82 of Undercover Desires

His comment hits me like a sucker punch to the gut. My dad was a good, honorable man who did everything he could to fight the good fight. “You won’t get away with this. I’m not going to stand by and let you corrupt this station so you can win this power trip you’re on.”

“You don’t have any choice.” He smirks with malice. “And it’s not a power trip, my dear. It’s so much more than that. I get rid of the Riveras, and I have full control of the drug trade here. You would be surprised how easy it is to play both sides and win.”

I shake my head, too lost for words to comment. I knew it, but until I heard the words from his mouth, I didn’t think it could really be possible. How can anyone be this evil? “Your daughter,” I utter.

“That was an unfortunate accident,” he says, a hint of sadness in his voice. He does care about someone—he cared about her.

“Accident?” I press, needing to know more.

He thinks for a moment, his eyes boring through me. “She got involved with the Kings and started taking the product instead of distributing it.”

“So, you just use her story to manipulate people into doing what you want, and all the while, you’re out there killing other children the same way,” I say, disgusted. How can he have such little regard for human life? Realization dawns on me. This is what Kobe was talking about and what Hazel was trying to explain earlier. There's no reasoning with people like this. They're too fucked in the head. Reader is too fucked in the head. And right now, he’s in a position with a lot of power.

“I know what’s going on with you and Kobe Rivera. I have eyes in all the right places. You have a soft spot for the Casanova, don’t you? Got a little too close and fell for his charm, or is itsomething to do with your family ties to the Riveras? It hasn’t slipped past me that you’re really a Lewis. Did you ever wonder why your father was killed?” He pauses, glaring me down.

My heart races. I was told he got killed in the line of duty, but no one would give me anything more on it.

“Killed because of the lowlife thug his brother was. Doesn’t sound so honorable now, does he?”

Goosebumps break out over my skin. My father was killed because of his brother. How does he know?

“I couldn’t believe my luck when you fell into my lap. So sugary sweet, I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist you, and he couldn’t. I thought you would have been smarter than to fall for a lowlife criminal like him, but maybe I was right about you in the beginning. You’re just a pretty face. But don’t fret, my dear, you should feel proud. You just earned your first arrest as a constable, and I will make sure you get all the acknowledgment for it.”

A sick feeling washes over me, settling in my stomach. What is Kobe going to think of me? What about the girls at the club, and Hazel? I started getting to know them as part of this investigation, but they all became my friends, integral parts of my life that I don’t want to lose. Kobe was right when he said Queen of Hearts is like a family. It’s become the family I never had, and I know I can’t do this to them. It’s wrong on so many levels.

“I won’t help you take them down,” I state firmly.

He moves in front of me, placing a hand on each side of the chair. His nostrils flare as he stares me down, sending a shiver over my spine. “You will do what you’re told. Or those videos I have of you will be sent to every police email account in the state. Straight from your email address.” He winks at me. “Got to make sure it can’t be traced back to me.”

My heart sinks at the mention of those damn videos Wyatt took. I can feel tears welling up, and I know I need to keep my composure in front of him, but all control is slipping from my hands. Letting him send those videos out would mean I can never work with these people again. How could I? It would be mortifying. But I can’t go along with this plan, either. There’s no way I can play any part in arresting Kobe.

I think back to last night and Kahil. Is this what happened to him? Reader was blackmailing him into doing his dirty work, and now he’s dead. “Do it. Send them out,” I retort with defiance. “I won’t let you blackmail me. I’m not helping you destroy good people’s lives for your own gain.”

“You’re dumber than I thought,” he sneers, moving back to his desk and typing something into my computer. He hits enter with sinister satisfaction. “Done,” he says, his lips curling into a twisted smile. He’s getting a sick thrill out of this.

My career is over. I won’t recover from this. My insides churn, and I feel like I’m going to be sick. “You can take that as my resignation from this office. I’m not helping you,” I declare, standing up and preparing to leave.

He swiftly moves to the door, blocking my exit. “Not so fast, missy. Let’s give this one more try. You will help me, or you disappear off the face of the earth. I’ve done it before, and I will do it again.” The look in his eyes tells me what he’s saying is true.

“People will figure out what you did,” I stammer, fear rippling through me.

“Who? Your friends at the club? I doubt it. You don’t have any family or real friends here. And once they know it was you who took away their beloved Cassanova, they will all hate you. They were never really your friends. You won’t be missed.” He spits the words at me with contempt.

I feel on the verge of tears, because deep down, I know he’s right. When they find out what I was doing, they will all despise me. “I won’t help you,” I choke out.

“You will, because if you don’t, I won’t just make you disappear. I will make sure Kobe Rivera is framed for your murder,” he threatens, his voice laced with malevolence. And I know it’s more than a threat; it’s a promise, I can see it in his eyes. Blackmail, corruption, murder.

Tears well up as I blink back at him, frozen in place. He can do whatever he wants with me, but the thought of Kobe suffering for something he didn’t do is unbearable. I’m too shocked to move, too scared to breathe. I can’t think of how to get us both out of this. I need to talk to Caleb, but he’s downtown, waiting for me.

“What’s worse for Kobe, Arabella? A little slap on the wrist for a minor crime or a life sentence?” he taunts, his words weighing heavily on my conscience.

My heart pounds in my chest. I know what I’m giving up by agreeing to this, but I can’t stand the thought of Kobe being locked up unjustly. I nod my head, reluctantly agreeing to help him. A stray tear rolls down my cheek, a silent testament to the impossible choice I’ve been forced to make.

CHAPTER 34

KOBE

Cracking open the fridge,I hand out beers to the crew that’s gathered. The crowd outside still roars with excitement for their new hero. Jett just won his title fight. We all knew he could do it, and he did. All our hard work and dedication has finally paid off.

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