Page 2 of Rival Hero

As a member of the Redleg intel team, I could use my talents without putting my neck on the line at every turn. While the majority of their work is protecting starlets and the wealthy, they also have dangerous and complex cases for people with nowhere else to turn. It’s the perfect balance.

For an added perk, I wouldn’t be in the field anymore, which provides a cushy layer of protection. Although I predominantly work from a comfortable seat behind safe walls these days, there have been plenty of times when I’ve risked life and limb to get the intel—a.k.a. be the hands-on pimp and get my money from my bitches.

If my job were safer, maybe I could reconnect with my family and work on rebuilding all that I destroyed so long ago. My sisters live in Orlando, so if I were based out of Clearwater, where Redleg is located, they’d be close enough to develop an actual relationship.

With emotions and everything.

A grin tugs at my mouth at just the possibility of visiting my sisters and their kids.

Baking a homemade five-layer tie-dye cake for one of my nieces’ birthday parties. Going to their cheer competitions and holding a sign with their names painted on it. Taking them prom dress shopping or to get their hair done for the big night. And even being there to take pictures and embarrass them in front of their dates.

My heart beats faster, and my smile widens just imagining the possibility of seeing them in the flesh instead of through security feeds and social media.

I wonder what those kids arereallylike. Could I become the cool aunt? Would they evenwantto get to know me?

And more importantly, would my sisters give me another chance?

Could they forgive me?

The fantasy unfolds in front of me— a life where I don’t have to be alone and always looking over my shoulder. The joy a life like that would provide is worth the risk of their rejection.

If I venture down this path, I’ll need a new identity free of the dangerous ties to my current life. Perhaps I’ll keep my first name, but the middle and last must go. The CIA will help me with some of that when I leave, creating records for a life that doesn’t exist. Birth certificates, school report cards, hospital records, and employment applications— all fake, of course.

It’ll be frustrating to keep the new details straight and figure out which parts I can tell my sisters. But after lying for a living for more than a decade, it’s second nature. Even if it sickens me.

On the bright side, I can get rid of all my old disguises and just be me.How liberating that would be.

Shep probably wouldn’t recognize me if I waltzed into Redleg with brown eyes instead of my natural green and wearing a short-cropped blond wig. Or if I had painted alabaster skin devoid of my natural freckles. While working on the task force with Shep a few years ago, I only disguised myself when I went into the field. He knows my authentic appearance as a certified ginger. There was no need to hide from him. He’s one of the good ones.

Nine hours later, I’ve uncovered a treasure trove of intel, satisfying my inner pimp, who now rests casually on my shoulder, smoking a blunt. Metaphorically speaking, of course.Don’t do drugs, kids.

As for what I’ve found… quite a bit.

Rubs palms together with glee.

The head of Redleg, Alan Lancaster, has many secrets, but nothing that raises a red flag. And he seems unaware of his biggest secret. It’s not my place to reveal it to him… not yet. Maybe one day that tidbit will help me out of a jam. I’m depositing this little morsel in my back pocket for a rainy day.

Tomer Stillman is the most boring person I’ve ever investigated.Suspiciouslyso. Can someone bethatbland? He makes the color beige seem exciting. His favorite flavor is probably flour, and I bet he thinks ketchup is spicy. It makes me wonder if he’s better at hiding his true self than I am. I’d need to watch him closely, but since we’d be working side by side, monitoring his activities would be easy. Noidentifiedthreat.

I bet Leo Mason has interesting stories to tell. His sister’s past alone is intriguing. His dad is a shitbag I’d like to remove from the planet in the most painful way imaginable. Leo gives me giant teddy bear vibes. His wife probably wouldn’t harm a spider. Nothing to worry about with those two.

Kristen Dayton, one of three female guards at Redleg, has a sad past but seems to be improving from her recent on-the-job attack. Her hospital records alone were tough to read. She’s got to be battling emotional scars. At least she’s started getting therapy, according to her insurance claims. My heart goes out to her. If Shepherd trusts her, then I can too.

Speaking of therapy, I tried it once. I found the therapist far too nosy with all her probing questions. Left immediately.

Perry Sawyer’s another one who’s oblivious to his true past. I wonder why he’s never dug deeper. He could find oodles with minimal effort. I guess some people like to live in blissful ignorance. He’s no threat, though. I’ll keep what I’ve learned about him in my pocket along with Alan’s secret. If he’s happy with his life, then why rock the boat?

I examine the others I’d be working closest to— Keelan Henderson, Margaret “Peggy” Lawler, Aaron Robles, Trevor “Junior” Donoghue, and Dante “Jonesy” Jones. All of them clean and seemingly uncompromised.

I tick them all off, then move quickly through their part-timers and the teams that handle the lower-risk cases. Very little stands out, especially considering the large size of the company.

When I’m done, only one person poses a threat.

Turns out, I’m not theonlyperson Big Al is considering adding to his intel team, and Klein has the advantage over me, given he’s already implanted himself in the role.

But he isn’t physically dangerous— no more than the rest. He’s my competition.

A rival in the making.

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