Page 25 of Dark Desire

“Okay. Remember.” He tapped his ear. “We’ll be listening. If there is a connection between them, we’ll find it.”

I left the café, disgusted with myself. The longer I spent with Vincenzo, the more I wanted nothing to do with this case. I was seeing him and his family in a different light. Sure, what they did was outside the law, but they were keeping scum off the streets—something law enforcement couldn’t do.

I parked my car near my apartment and walked to the restaurant. I wasn’t about to plant the bug without telling Vincenzo first. I had to do it, but I would do what I could to protect him. I shoved it into my pocket and pulled open the restaurant door. The air felt charged as I stalked across the dining room toward the back office. I couldn’t explain why, but I felt like I was betraying someone. I just wasn’t sure who that was anymore.

Vincenzo was seated in the private room with his brothers. I tried to sneak past before anyone noticed I was there, but three pairs of eyes locked onto mine, freezing me in place.

“Agent Lawson.” Massimo Anastasi cocked an eyebrow at me, his tone laced with venom. Breaking his stare, my eyes sought Vincenzo, who was already moving toward me. “I…” I stepped back from the open doorway.

Vincenzo’s deep tone caused me to stumble. “Riley.” Strong arms wrapped around me, keeping me from tumbling backwards on my ass.

“Agent Lawson.” This time, it was Antonio Anastasi who spoke. “Please come in and have a seat.” He motioned to an empty chair at the end of the table.

Vincenzo clung to my hand as he led me toward the table. I glanced around at the two men, watching me with suspicion as I sat down.

“Give me one reason I shouldn’t end your very existence right now,” Massimo bellowed.

Vincenzo growled, pressing his hands into my shoulders to hold me in place. He could sense my need to bolt. “Fratello,” he growled. “We discussed this.”

“We did. But I need to hear it from her. I need to know if she is a threat.”

“Well?” Antonio kicked his feet on top of the table and crossed his arms across his chest. His demeanor was completely opposite of Massimo's. He looked—amused.

I leaned backward, looking up into Vincenzo’s face. “You told them?”

“I did, Tesoro. They needed to know what was going on.”

I pressed my hands to my face to calm my nerves. Here I sat, in front of the three most powerful men in Las Vegas, and I was holding a fucking bug in my pocket.

“Well.” I slipped my hand into my pocket and pulled it out, tossing it to the table. “Let’s start with the fact I was ordered to bug this place.” Massimo slammed his fist on the table, making it bounce against the wooden surface. “Look. I’m not sure where to start." I scanned their faces and swallowed. "I’ve been working with the FBI for the last three years.”

“Fuck,” Antonio grunted. “Are you even a chef?”

“Yes. Or at least I was a long time ago. Right out of high school, I went to culinary school. I wanted to be like my dad—a chef.” I swallowed the bile rising in my throat as I recounted the memories I’d spent the last six years trying to bury. “I worked alongside him at his restaurant. It was surreal being just twenty and commanding a team of chefs, but I did.”

“How does a woman go from being a chef to an agent with the FBI?”

“It’s simple. My father, Robert Murphy, was murdered. Shot in cold blood. The police determine he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He’d been caught in the middle of a hit gone wrong. That night, Rebecca Murphy died too. I walked out of the hospital and applied to the police academy. I became Riley Lawson and never looked back. I was top of my class and quickly recruited to the undercover division. I worked my ass off, determined to find my father’s killer. It wasn’t until I was approached by an agent with the FBI, that I consider becoming an agent. Apparently, my investigation had piqued their interest enough to bring me on as part of a joint task force to locate who I now know as La Lama. It’s believed he is the reason my dad is dead.”

Antonio’s eyes widened as he looked at Vincenzo. “Fratello?”

“What?” I glanced between the two brothers, who seemed to be sharing some kind of silent turmoil. "What am I missing?"

Vincenzo turned from the table, putting his back to me. He stood with his hands braced against the wall with his head down. “La Lama doesn’t kill using a gun.”

“How could you know that?” I glanced back at Massimo, who was watching me with what looked like sympathy.

“Do you love our brother?” Antonio spoke, making my gaze snap to his.

“What does that have to do with La Lama?” I watched as the two men stood.

“Everything.” Massimo whispered, his eyes closing. “We will figure out what to do with that.” He pointed to the bug. “But first…” He pressed his hand to Vincenzo's shoulder. “We will give you two a moment.”

I watched as they left the room, leaving me alone with Vincenzo. “Vincenzo. How do you know how La Lama kills his victims?”

“You’re an agent, Riley. You should know La Lama prefers his blade.”

“I know that. But reports say he pulled a gun when the man he was there to kill turned the tables.”

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