Page 8 of Code Name: Grit

I’d begun these sessions to prepare her for field operations. Instead, I found myself increasingly in need of protection from the one threat I hadn’t anticipated—my growing feelings for a woman I couldn’t afford to want.

Three daysof round-the-clock intelligence gathering had left everyone running on coffee, tea, and lack of sleep. The Belcastros had stepped up the rate at which they were devouringcriminal enterprises across the city, and we were scrambling to keep pace.

“Those bastards have their fingers in everything,” said Tank, bringing up another surveillance map. “I can’t help but think their reach inside law enforcement goes higher than we thought.”

His suggestion turned my stomach. We’d already taken down one corrupt deputy director working with organized crime.

“How many agents are we talking?” I asked, dreading the answer.

“There’s enough to launch a formal investigation into five,” Atticus said, looking up from his laptop. “Plus three more we strongly suspect.”

I raised my head when Lumi entered the room with Dante and both sat across from me.

“What are you discussing?” she asked.

“We suspect dirty agents are making things too easy for the Belcastro bastards.” I sneered.

“Dragon picked up something else unusual,” Tank said, pulling up a revenue report. “The Belcastros have taken over a dozen Castellano operations in the last month, but they’re operating at reduced capacity.”

Lumi’s brow furrowed as she studied the data. “That doesn’t make sense. They should be maximizing profits in newly acquired territories.”

“Maybe they’re being cautious?” I suggested.

She shook her head. “No. Crime families don’t leave money on the table. Something’s off about their approach.” Lumi looked from me to Atticus, who sat huddled over his laptop. “We need to stop planning and start doing. How close are we to having the new identities in place?”

“They’re ready,” he responded, motioning us over so we could both see over his shoulder.

“These might be too perfect,” I joked.

“I agree,” said Lumi, leaning closer to read what was on the screen. “A payoff here, a murder or two there. Nothing serious enough to raise flags, but enough to make us feel real.”

“You’re having entirely too much fun with this,” I said, nudging her with my arm.

She smirked and shrugged. “I went a long time without much fun in my life.”

While I hated seeing the smile leave her face, that she’d shared a vulnerability made me feel closer to her—as much as I doubted that was her intention.

Admiral stalked over to us. “Atticus, coordinate with the K19 Shadow Ops team on digital surveillance of the bureau. If these corrupt units are communicating with the Belcastros, I want to know how.”

“Did something else happen?” I asked.

“Alice found a troubling trend in judicial outcomes. Three judges in particular have been ruling consistently in favor of Belcastro-affiliated defendants. And at least one city council member seems to be facilitating zoning changes that benefit their businesses.”

“Control the streets through violence, the courts through corruption, and the government through influence,” Lumi muttered under her breath.

“The team in Staten Island picked up increased chatter about shipping-terminal activity,” Tank added, pulling up new intel sent over by Coleman “Kodiak” Emeric. I hadn’t worked with him before, but like Tank and Atticus, we were lucky to have him as part of the new unit.

“They’re preparing to take over the docks Castellano controlled,” said Lumi.

Dante stood, nearly toppling his chair over when he did. “This sucks.”

“Which part?” I asked.

“You. Undercover. You’re too recognizable, Grit.”

He might be right. However, the thought of anyone else at Lumi’s side during the operation made something primitive and possessive rise within me. “I’ll figure something out.”

Dante rolled his eyes and mumbled as he stalked away. “He’ll figuresomethingout.”

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