Page 160 of The Consequences of Love and Vengeance

Alders and Summers both share a look.

“Care to fill me in on the private convo you two are having?”

“Harper has been trying to get Sam to step down,” he tells me, referring to Dylan Harper, Mayor Samuel García’s Deputy Chief of Staff. “Retire. Dylan wants the mayoral spot, but he knows running against García isn’t going to make that happen. Everyone loves Samuel. Harper has been trying to get that spot for three years now, but since García took office, he’s done and continues to do more than any other past mayor combined.”

“But what would García leaving office have to do with Harper being elected? What is the connection with our case?” I ask.

“Maybe nothing,” Summers says. “Maybe everything. Harper and Alessandro De Luca are brothers.” He raises an eyebrow. “You know who he is?”

Chills run up my spine when he says De Luca’s name.

“They’re half-brothers. Different fathers, but brothers nonetheless. Harper might want into the most powerful seat in the city so that he can have more control over drugs that come and go. It’s not a stretch.”

“No,” I agree. “It’s not.”

Could Chasity have planned her pregnancy? Could Gabriel have been just a pawn to get D to bend to a drug lord’s demand? As I think the words, it sounds so far-fetched, but something tells me it isn’t.

I have to find Gabe, and I have to do it soon.

What happens when Diaz finally realizes there isn’t anything that would force Drago to do something he doesn’t want to do? D told me just that when we were arguing.

“Then she’s where we’ll start,” Eric follows up.

“Andrews,” Summers calls, backing out of his cubicle and rounds to where Eric and I are. We both turn to face him. I stand when he nears. “Do you think you can talk to her without Houston getting wind of it?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure I can figure out a way, but I thought I was just here toconsult, Detective.”

“Touché.” His lips tip up. “By the book.” He shakes his head. “You can’t be heavily involved. But this isn’t a black and white case. To nail a man like Diaz and to take a badge away from a dirty cop, we can’t play by normal rules. If I’d thought for a second you were just as dirty as Houston, you wouldn’t be here. So, find out what you can on the down-low. If you get caught, it’s on you. Got that?”

“Yeah. Loud and clear.”

“Good.” His grin widens into a knockout smile, and suddenly, I remember why I didn’t like him to begin with. His green eyes sparkle when both sides of his mouth tip upward, making it clear as day that smile is a weapon, and he should put it away before he hurts someone. “Call me Justin from here on out.”

He whips his head toward Eric while I’m left stunned. Who knew he could go from so mundane to attractive just by changing his demeanor?

“I’m out. Text if anything major happens. If not, I’ll catch you Monday, brother.” He leaves, making a quick exit.

Damn, how does his wife keep women off him?

“She doesn’t. That’s why they’re separated.”

“Wait. What?”Did I say that out loud?

By the shit-eating grin on Eric’s face, I did.

Way to make an impression there, Andrews, but hell, it’s not like I have a man right now anyway, so there is no harm in admiring a little eye candy.

The detective in me does wonder exactly why they’re separated, though. Did he cheat on her?

That’d make him less attractive and more unappealing, which may be better for me. Not like anything would ever happen just because he’s the first cop I’ve ever found attractive. I’d never go there, married or not.

It would be impossible, even if I wanted to entertain the idea for half a second. No, there is another man who has stolen my attention, and even if he doesn’t like me right now, it doesn’t stop the way I feel about him.

Why does this have to suck so bad?

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Monday rolls around and we finally have the green light to take over the kidnapping case. Well, the DEA’s special task force does, and I have a feeling the task force includes Alders and Summers, even if Eric hasn’t actually told me. Justin’s mention of being on this team certainly gives way to that belief, plus Eric told me his partner would be searching for Gabe.

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