Page 32 of Undercover Desires

“I... I...” he stutters out.

“You what? You piece of crap. Do you know the girl who lives here?” I demand, my thumb pressing on his windpipe. He can’t answer me, but I don’t care. He’s lucky I don’t squeeze the life right out of him.

“You stay the hell away from this house and the girl who lives in it. She’s under protection of the Rivera brothers. You come here again, and I will personally see to it you have no eyes left to peep on girls with. Do you understand?” I release my grip on him.

“Yes, sir. I won’t come back here,” his voice trembles out.

I thump him across the face, just to make sure he knows I’m serious. Then I leave him in a crumpled, crying mess on the grass.

“Get the hell out of here,” I warn him, stomping my foot in his direction.

He scrabbles to his feet and makes a run for it. Who the hell was he? I walk back past the window where he was peeping in. The window is slightly open, just enough to let out the steam from the shower and give the intruder a full view of her body while she changed. My heart sinks. That fucking creep knew what he was doing. He came right for this side of the house. The shower is on, the glass completely fogged up. I keep walking. As much as I would like a glimpse of her, if I stay, I’m just as bad as the creep I just beat up.

I jump back over the fence and make my way to my car, glad I followed her home tonight. His face. I feel like I have seen it before, but I can’t place it.

CHAPTER 13

ARABELLA

My heart races, andmy breath comes in ragged gasps as I sprint through the town. My feet pound the pavement with each step, the rhythm of my run echoing my erratic thoughts. Desperation courses through my veins as I try to rid myself of the uneasy feeling I’m left with after last night. My emotions churn within me, a tumultuous storm of frustration, anger, and fear.

Mostly, I’m disgusted with myself. How could I let Kobe manipulate me so easily? The memories of our encounter replay in my mind like a never-ending nightmare. The way he grinned, the way he toyed with me, the way he asserted his dominance—it all lingers, a bitter taste in my mouth.

But it was like there was no escape, no matter which path I chose. I was trapped, caught between a rock and a hard place. If I quit or he fired me, I would lose my ability to gather information on him and his dangerous brothers. It would be a foolish move, especially considering the danger I’m told they pose to the town.

If I stayed and signed that contract, it would be like willingly stepping into a cage. Kobe would practically own me, and I would be at his beck and call. The thought makes my skin crawl, but what choice did I have? Either way, he holds all the power, and it sickens me to my core.

I couldn’t just walk away from that job. I need it, not just as Reader’s spy, but also because without the extra cash I’m earning from it, I would be going backward, struggling to make ends meet day by day. The financial stress weighs heavily on my shoulders, and it’s like an anchor dragging me down.

As much as it sickens me, the money I will receive because of that contract could actually save me from the mess I’m in. What I’m going to have to do for Kobe is what terrifies me the most. The dark path he’s leading me down is filled with uncertainties and potential horrors.

Why is he doing this? The question haunts me, and a voice in my head whispers a chilling answer: “Because he can, Arabella.” The voice is right. He can do whatever he wants. That’s why I have to suck it up and keep working toward bringing him down so he can’t do this to anyone else.

I jog back up the street, feeling the familiar burn in my muscles, and head inside my house. I slept in this morning, and my entire day has been thrown off-kilter because of it. But I knew I had to fit in my run; without it, I wouldn’t have been able to face another night at the club. It’s just past four, and I start at five.

I hop in the shower and wash off, the persistent twisting in my stomach driving me crazy. Everything in me tells me to call it quits, to walk away while I still have a sliver of my dignity intact, but I want this win so badly. If I can just find something on the Rivera brothers, I could be the one to make a difference. I have to try, right? I pep-talk myself in the shower, reminding myself that I’m not a quitter.

“You don’t let shit get you down,” I mutter to myself, my resolve firming. “Remember, keep on fighting. Keep focusing on what you believe in, and you will win in the end.”

I flick off the shower and wrap a towel around myself, heading in search of clothes. I tip the clean laundry basket onto my bed and rummage through it, looking for underwear. Not one pair? I open my bedside drawer and find one lonesome pair, a black G-string. It will have to do, but where the hell is the rest of my stuff? I remember hanging them on the line yesterday. I throw on a pair of jeans and a tank top, quickly tuck my wallet and phone into my bag, and apply some minimal makeup. Then I rush out the door.

While walking the three blocks to the club, I keep going over the reasons I have to do this.

I look up at Queen of Hearts, and in the harsh light of day, it loses the enchantment it holds at night. The alleyway, once concealed by the cover of darkness, reveals its true nature, with discarded cigarette butts and unsightly stains, creating a stark contrast to the opulence within.

As I approach the entrance, tonight’s vigilant guard stands at the ready, and with a nod, he grants me access. Swiftly, I navigate the ground floor, bounding up the stairs two steps at a time. A quick wave to Xavier as I pass her, and I make a beeline for the staffroom, where Shelby is changing. Her face lights up when she spots me.

“I didn’t have time to say goodbye to you last night, you left so abruptly,” she says.

With a rueful smile, I reply, “I’m sorry. I was exhausted. It’s been a long week.”

“Tell me about it. I have exams this week. Kill me now.” She laughs, then looks me over more closely. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I reassure her with a sigh, though a hint of turmoil lingers beneath the surface.

Shelby leans in closer. “I overheard some of what happened with Kobe last night. It’s okay if you’re not fine. You can tell me, I promise I won’t tell anyone else.”

I take a moment to think over her question. It’s embarrassing that she heard what he did to me. She’s been working here a while. I wonder what she thinks about him. “Do you trust Kobe? Like, do you think he’s a trustworthy guy?”

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