Page 14 of Uncover Me (Men of Inked 4)
administrator’s office to have a heart-to-heart. I hadn’t seen Roxy or spoken to her in two weeks, and I had done a shit-ton of soul searching during that time.
I was ready to fight for her and us. If she loved me the way she’d professed, how I knew she did deep down in my bones, then it would all work out in the end. I didn’t worry that she’d out me. By now, some of the people had to have talked if she’d started looking for me. I needed to see what she knew and if the cat was out of the bag.
I knocked on the door, cracking my neck, turning it from side to side, and readying myself for a fight.
“Come in,” a voice called from the other side of the door.
Opening the door, I saw the Deputy Administrator sitting behind his desk, riffling through papers. “Sir, I need to speak with you for a moment.”
He stopped moving, looked up, and stared at me. Slowly, a smile spread across his face as he stood. Then he walked toward me with his hand held out.
“Thomas, good to finally see you again.”
There was no way in hell this paper-pushing fucker remembered me. I was sure he’d been briefed on the entire situation and knew about the case.
Shaking his hand, I said, “You too, sir.” I was lying my ass off, but by now, it had become second nature. “I needed to speak with you about something important.”
He backed away, motioning toward the chair in front of his desk. As I sat, I took a moment to look him over. He was wearing an expensive suit, and he had perfectly combed and gelled hair, a clean-shaven face, and probably not a day out in the field under his belt. He was a just a suit. He’d never put his life on the line, living a lie each day and trying to pretend to be someone he wasn’t. He didn’t understand how the lines blur and the small pieces of you get muddled to the point where you’re not the same person anymore.
“I’ve dedicated over a year of my life to this mission—”
“We owe you a debt of gratitude for all your hard work.”
“Please let me finish, sir.” I held up my hand and his mouth snapped shut. I was pissed off that he’d interrupted me. Sitting forward, I rested my elbows on my knees before I spoke again. “I’ve given more to this agency than most people do. I’ve put my life in danger as well as my family. Without my work, the Sun Devils would still be on the street with no inroad to bring them down. Without me, you’re nowhere.” I paused, letting him absorb my words.
He nodded, placing his hands together and resting his index fingers against his lips. He was studying me much the same way I had him when I’d sat down.
“There’s someone I can’t just leave behind from my time working undercover with the MC. I’m here asking permission to contact her.” I leaned back in the chair and crossed my arms over my chest.
“Absolutely not.” He didn’t move or blink as he uttered the words from behind his fingers.
“Sir,” I started, not willing to just accept that and walk out. I’d fight for her. “I respectfully ask you to please consider me in this equation. I’ve already suffered and sacrificed enough for this job.”
“I’m respectfully declining your request, Agent Gallo. It’s too risky. As a member of the DEA, you are not to have contact with any person who was part of your undercover work.” He looked at me with his lips set in a firm line. “No. I’m sorry and I wish I could help you in some way.” Unfuckingbelievable. Just a flat-out denial of my request without even putting thought into it.
“I’ll have my resignation on your desk before I leave today,” I replied without thinking. “I’ve given enough, most likely too much, to this agency. I’m no longer willing to put my life or those I hold dearest in jeopardy. I only have one life to live and I’ve sacrificed enough.” I stood, glaring at him. “I respectfully quit, sir.”
He shot out of his seat, rounding the desk to stand toe to toe with me. “That’s unacceptable, Agent Gallo.”
“Sir, I’m done. The months I spent undercover kicked my ass. I can’t do it anymore. I’ll be here to help with the investigation when called upon, but I no longer wish to be a DEA agent. It’s time I reconnect with my family and find another path in life. A course where I don’t have to give up so much of myself to do good in this world.”
His face came closer to mine. I almost wanted to laugh. Did he think he scared me? Honestly, I could puff out some air and the man would fall over. He wouldn’t know how to handle my fist connecting with his face.
“If you obstruct this investigation in any way, Agent Gallo, you’ll be arrested for conspiracy. Watch your step very carefully from here on out.”
“Yes, sir. I didn’t give up these months just to watch it all get washed down the drain. I’ll be at your service when needed, but I have more important shit to do than stand here and talk to you.” Without shaking his hand or saying goodbye, I turned on my heel and marched out of his office.
Stopping at his receptionist’s desk, I grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, scribbled a letter declaring my resignation, effective immediately, and signed my name. Then I left it on her desk and asked her to deliver it to the Deputy Administrator immediately before I made my way to the elevators.
Freedom is a funny feeling. I’d thought I’d spend my life serving the people of this great country as part of the DEA, but after one undercover stint that had lasted longer than expected, I was done. No longer the man I was before, I wanted to find myself again, decide who the real Thomas Gallo was, and find a way to put all the bad shit I’d done behind me. Whatever the fuck that was at this point—I had no fucking clue.
When the elevator doors opened, James was standing inside, smiling. “How’d it go?” he asked as I joined him.
“I quit.” I didn’t dare look him in the eyes. He’d be pissed that I’d thrown in the towel over some pussy.
“So did I,” he stated calmly.
My head jerked to the side. “What?”
“I quit too. Fuck them.”
“I can’t believe you did that.”
“Thomas, did you ever think you’d quit?” he asked, tilting his head as he stared at me.
“No, but I’m stunned you’d throw it all away.” I leaned against the wall, glancing at the display to see how many floors we had left. Twelve.
“I didn’t throw shit away. I’m done with all the bullshit. I want to spend time with your sister.”
Another victim. I prayed Izzy felt the same about him, or else he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life.
“I wish you well with that, James.” I tried to hide my smile, but I knew the man was batshit crazy about my crazy sister.
“We quit for the same reason. Sometimes, the heart takes control and we can’t deny what we want most.”
“When did we become such goddamn pussies?” I laughed, hitting my head against the wall.
“I don’t think we are. We’ve just evolved.”
“Yeah, we’ll go with that. I need your help, James.” I looked up at the ceiling. “Cover for me a few days with the family while I go see Roxy.” I closed my eyes, waiting to be yelled at for my carelessness.
“Be careful, man. It’s dangerous for you to go back there. Why don’t you let me go get her and bring her to you?”
I shook my head, clenching my teeth. “No. I have to be the one to do it. She needs to understand how I feel and why I did what I did. She needs to feel me and remember the love we have. I can’t send anyone in my place. Only I can convince her to leave and trust me.”
“You’re taking a huge risk. Let me come with you at least.”
Just then, the elevator dinged and the doors opened. After walking out, I stopped and waited for him to turn to me. “I have to go alone. I know she’ll listen. I pray that she loves me enough to understand all the lies.”
“Call me, Thomas. Keep in contact and tell me what’s happening.”
“I will. Let’s go get our shit and get the fuck out of D.C.,” I said, pulling him into my arms for a bro hug.
Slapping me on the back, h
e said, “I never thought I’d hear those words.”
We were on a flight by nightfall, landing in Florida before heading our separate ways. After we wished each other luck and made plans to meet up, I headed toward Roxy.
Chapter 10
It had been weeks since Blue and the rest of the club disappeared in federal custody. Wild rumors had started shortly after their arrest. There were murmurs that Rebel had been placed in witness protection and was feeding information to the Feds about the club. The timing made sense, so many of the old ladies and the left-behind prospect believed that shit as gospel.
I was exhausted, barely able to stay awake as I drove home from my shift. Business at the club had plummeted after the arrests. Either the clientele was behind bars or people were too scared to come around, thinking they were being watched or that the club was bugged. It didn’t seem worth showing up for fifty dollars in tips after dancing my ass off and letting men paw me like I was a sex toy. I was sick of it, ready to leave the life behind, but that would require relocating. What if Blue came looking for me, though, and I wasn’t here? I couldn’t leave until I knew where he was or how to contact him.
Walking into my kitchen, I tossed my purse on the table, not bothering to look at my phone. What was the point? My phone had been silent since he’d vanished. It didn’t stop me from keeping it within hearing distance. I’d hurl myself off a bridge if I missed his call.
As I sauntered through the living room, a hand suddenly grabbed my wrist. I screamed bloody murder, flailing my hands as I tried to hit whoever was holding me in their grip. My heart was pounding so quickly that I thought it would explode. The blood coursed through my body, causing my temples to throb and my body to shake.
“Stop!” he snapped, grabbing my other wrist and holding me captive.
I couldn’t see his face as I shrieked, hoping someone would hear me. Then my instincts kicked in and I fell to the floor, deciding I wouldn’t make it easy. I’d use any means necessary to survive and not be raped by the slimeball.
“Fuck you!” I yelled, now using my feet as weapons.
“Stop,” he said again, trying to capture my legs with no success.
I kept kicking, pushing myself backward and toward the coffee table in the living room, as I searched for something to strike the intruder with.
“Roxy, stop fighting me!” the man hollered as he captured my ankle.
Instantly, I froze. I knew that voice. Maybe my brain was processing it wrong, the blood flowing through my ears helping mask the voice and making my fantasy come to life. I was likely hearing shit.
“Get off me, fucker!” I screamed, kicking him in the balls.
