Page 29 of An Exclusive Game

“Keep up the good work,” Bell adds, and returns his attention to the papers before him. “Now, once the membership has been secured, we’ll discuss our next steps.”

The debriefing comes to an end, and the team begins to disperse from the room. I gather my notes and prepare to leave myself, but a soft touch on my arm stops me in my tracks. I turn to see Sam Wright, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination.

As the others file out, Wright pulls me aside. “You got a minute?”

I follow him to a quiet corner. His brow is creased with concern. “How are you holding up? This double life stuff isn’t easy.”

I stare at him. “I’m fine. Managing just like any other op.”

He shakes his head. “I saw you bolting from the Ruby the other night, grabbing a cab a few blocks away. Risky move if de Luca’s people were watching.”

My spine stiffens. “How do you know how I got home?”

Wright holds my gaze. “I tailed you.”

“Youwhat?” I hiss.

“It’s my job as your handler to know what you’re doing, how you’re playing it.”

“Did Bell—”

“Bell didn’t know.”

I bristle at the idea of him tracking me without notice—and without approval, either. “A little heads up would’ve been nice. If you’d been made—”

“I wasn’t. And with the heat turning up, we should wire you for your safety,” he continues. “Bell should’ve insisted from the start.”

This is the last damn thing I need. “Wright, I appreciate your concern, but you have nothing to worry about.” No way am I wearing a wire, letting them listen to every private moment with Alessa. I can’t work like that.

“I’m putting in a recommendation,” he says doggedly. “I don’t like the way Bell’s running this op and if I can mitigate some of that cowboy attitude, I will.”

I can’t help smiling. “I think that’s the first time anyone haseverdescribed Stephen Bell as a cowboy.”

After a moment, Wright gives a chuckle. “Maybe. But Nat, seriously. I’m worried about your safety. And up until now, you’ve been doing a great job. But with this membership offer and the clear interest de Luca has in you, I can’t help but worry that you’re getting in too deep.”

“Sam, I...” For a moment, I’m at a loss for words. “I never meant for you to worry like this. I’ll consider the wire.”

“Thanks,” he says, squeezing my shoulder reassuringly before stepping back. “Now, I should let you get back to your fabulous life as an heiress.”

I give an automatic smile, but as I head for the elevator, turmoil churns inside me. Having Sam Wright monitor me has never been a problem before. So why does this idea about a wire feel like a violation?

Wearing a wire could jeopardize my cover, my inner voice argues. If Alessa were to discover it, our entire investigation would crumble.

Hell, she mightkillme.

As much as she pretended to reassure me in that cab ride last night, I didn’t miss her description of her father. The Gentleman.He’snot going to be happy to find out his precious daughter is getting played, is he?

No. Wearing a wire would be theunsafe thing to do.

But as much as I try to focus on the practicalities, I can’t ignore the other side of the argument, the part of me that simply wants to shield my private moments with Alessa from the prying eyes of my colleagues.

Each stolen glance, each lingering touch…I can’t deny the attention is flattering.

Any undercover operation has moments where lines are blurred. It’s not possible to live someone else’s life and not reallyfeelhow they feel from time to time. So yes, Iamattracted to Alessa de Luca. She’s gorgeous, charming, and doing her best to seduce me, according to the team—and to my own observations, too.

But so far I haven’t observed anything tying her to the Mancini Family, and unless that changes, I’m starting to think this whole operation will be a bust. The team will have to give up any hope of taking Alessa down.

And there’s a part of me that is actually happy about that idea.

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