Page 45 of Love Fire

It’s one of those things that you plan everything perfectly, confident nothing will go wrong. Then there’s that nagging in the back of your head. The one that says there’s something missing.

I look over at Brent, driving intently. Something so mundane and he manages to look hot as hell. Maybe because of what we’re about to do. A man taking charge is always attractive.

Especially since he’s about to infiltrate your father’s criminal network.

We pull up to my father’s law office. It’s been working as a cover up for the cartel’s money-laundering. Ironic that they chose this type of mask.

We’re no better, though. We’re driving in a surveillance van that we stole from Brent’s office. He removed the tracker so no one’ll notice it missing from the parking lot.

My job is to use the equipment and listen to him while he’s inside. He’ll pose as a delivery man. There’s no way my father’s employees will blindly let a random delivery guy inside. It’s a good thing it’s Wednesday.

The receptionist that’s been there for years has her day off today. A new girl should be at the front desk today. I’m hoping they receive some packages on this day to avoid suspicion. I also hope they don’t receive as many packages, so it wouldn’t be weird to suddenly go to the offices.

My foot shakes. There’s so much risk for this operation run by two people. Brent barely healed as well. The last thing I want to do is endanger him again.

He holds my hand. “It’s going to be fine. We got it all figured out.”

“What if something happens?”

He shrugs. “Then I’ll wing it.”

I press my lips together. “Not literally, right?”

He chuckles and I give him the microphone.

“Okay, just act normal. Don’t ask to take the box to the offices, just assume you are. They won’t have a chance to reject you.”

He smirks. “Should I flirt with her?”

I deadpan. “You can if you want me to sneak into Alessandro’s room tonight.”

“I was just kidding, goddamn.”

He puts on sunglasses before getting out of the van. I find some binoculars. Then I carefully watch him walk in with the fake package addressed to “Torres Vincent”.

I speak softly into the mic. “Testing. Can you hear me?”

“Heard,” he responds.

Brent goes inside.

The offices look exactly like a professional law firm would. Large windows with blooming trees on the sidewalk. Modern and clean architecture. To top it off, the white letters are lined with gold paint.

No one would think heinous acts currently happen behind those doors. No one would know the suffering my siblings and I went through for so many years. I can’t remember when I first found out about my father’s real job. My siblings and I had the same reaction after knowing: fear-stricken.

It’s a miracle we’re all still alive. All of us. Me, Nate, and Leanne.

I refuse to believe Leanne’s dead. I know I saw her in the woods that day. There’s no mistake about it.

She can’t be dead. There’s absolutely no way. I’ll find her in no time.

My thoughts are interrupted by the receptionist’s voice.

“What can I help you with?” she asks, scanning her eyes over Brent.

She is a tall and skinny blonde woman. Despite being there for one day out of the week, she takes her job seriously. Her square glasses and black suit say it all.

“I have a package for Torres Vincent.”

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