Page 31 of Sly Like a Fox
“Jenna?”Fenton’s voice pulls me back to the present.“You okay?You seemed distracted.”
I blink.“Just thinking about tomorrow night.Are you nervous?”
“Terrified.”He gives me a stiff smile.“Three years of planning, and it all comes down to one evening.If we can get close to Anklor, plant the surveillance devices, and gather the evidence we need, we can destroy his entire network.If we fail...”
“We won’t fail.”The conviction in my voice surprises us both.“We’re too good at this, and we want it too much.”
He moves closer, close enough that I can see the gold flecks in his vision and smell his familiar cologne.“When did this become about what we want instead of what I need?”
The question hangs between us, loaded with insinuations.Instead of answering directly, I rise on my toes and kiss him, pouring all my complicated emotions into the contact.
When we break apart, both of us are breathing harder than the brief kiss should warrant.“Tomorrow night,” I say, resting my forehead against his, “we take down Anklor and prove justice actually exists in this world.”
“And then?”
“Then we figure out what comes next.”
The conversation is interrupted by a sharp knock at the door.Fenton and I exchange glances.We’re not expecting anyone, and unexpected visitors are rarely good news in our line of work.
“Stay here,” he murmurs, moving toward the front door with alertness that suggests he’s prepared for trouble.
But the voice that calls through the door is one I recognize, and it makes me grimace.“Jenna?I know you’re in there.We need to talk.”
It’s Maria Ortiz, my brother’s ex-wife, detective with the white-collar crime unit, and the last person I want to see right now.I move to the door despite Fenton’s concerned expression.Through the door, I ask, “Maria?What are you doing here?”
“Open the door, Jenna.This conversation needs to happen face-to-face.”
I look at Fenton.He shrugs, leaving it to me.Refusing to let her in will only make her more tenacious, regardless why she’s here.I unlock the door to find Maria standing in the hallway wearing her detective expression and professional outfit that suggests she’s here in an official capacity.
“Maria.This is unexpected.”
She steps into the apartment without invitation, her keen vision cataloging everything from the expensive furniture to Fenton’s presence in the background.“We need to talk about your new boyfriend.”
“I don’t see how my personal life is any of your business, especially since you’re no longer family.”
The comment is cruel, but Maria’s sudden appearance has triggered my defensive instincts.She divorced my brother two years ago after discovering his involvement in a fencing operation, and while she maintained some contact with the family out of lingering loyalty, her relationship with me has always been complicated.
“It becomes my business when you start dating someone with connections to criminal activity.”
Ice runs through my veins, but I keep my expression neutral.“What are you talking about?”
“Fenton Nielsen.After your brother mentioned him when we met for lunch, I ran a background check.”
I curse under my breath, regretting confiding in Danny when we chatted a couple of weeks ago.I still talk to my family sometimes, but Danny’s the only one I remain truly close with, or at least close enough for monthly phone calls.I only mentioned in passing I was dating a new man, giving Fenton’s name reluctantly when Danny asked, and forgot all about it until now.
Fenton steps forward, extending his hand with perfect composure.“Detective Ortiz, I presume?Jenna’s mentioned you.I’m Fenton Nielsen.”
Maria doesn’t take his hand, instead studying his face with the intensity of someone memorizing details for a police report.“Mr.Nielsen.Interesting how someone with your background has so little digital footprint before three years ago.”
“I value privacy.Not everyone needs to document their entire life on social media.”
She arches a dark brow.“Privacy is one thing.A completely fabricated identity is another.”
My heart rate accelerates, but I force myself to appear confused rather than panicked.“Maria, what are you implying?”
She gives me a level look.“I’m saying your boyfriend’s background is too short and too clean to be real.Perfect credit, perfect employment history, and perfect references.In my experience, when someone’s past looks that perfect, they’re usually hiding something significant.”
“Or maybe he’s just a successful professional who pays his bills and maintains good relationships with clients and colleagues,” I counter.“Not everyone has skeletons in their closet.”
