Page 54 of Undercover Desires

I can’t help but wonder what’s so urgent. Sophie’s not the type to send cryptic messages.

When I arrive at Sophie’s, I can sense something’s off. The air feels heavy, and there’s an unsettling tension in the atmosphere. I walk up the stairs to her apartment, my heart pounding in my chest. My knuckles rap on the door, and Sophie opens it. She looks upset.

“Rachel,” she says, her voice uneven. “Come in.”

I walk past her into the house. “I thought we were waiting on some information. What happened?”

She bolts the door locked and then turns to face me. “They killed him.”

She takes a few breathes before explaining. “The guy I was supposed to get Moreno’s associate’s name from. Rachel, I don’t know how they got to him. He called me in the middle of the night saying that he knew some members of Cosa Nostra were after him, that he had angered some of the families and he begged me for FBI protection.”

I stiffen. What we are doing is off the books so there is no way Sophie could have done that.

“What did you tell him?”

She sighs, a lot more composed than she was when I walked in. “I told him that he had to provide me with more information. The guy hung up.”

“Okay. So?”

“So I tried calling him but he was using a burner and I couldn’t reach him. Anyway, at around four a.m, he calls me from a different number and he sounds extra paranoid. I calm him down and that is when he reveals to me that he does not know the actual name but he knows the club the associate frequents.Babinski.”

The place is popular and in fact the first and last time I was there was with Alessandro. My cheeks turn pink as I remember our time there. All this sounds like good news though. We have a location, which is a lot more than we have ever had. To be honest, other than the dead guy, I am not really sure what the problem really is.

“Okay, I am familiar with the club. I can start scouting it tonight.”

“Listen to me Rachel, there is more. The guy said that he was scared because there were reports that something big was going on among the mafia. Something had them shaken up.”

“I guess that person would be me. I am bad news too, Sophie. You just keep an ear out. In the meantime, I think I better get ready for tonight. Seems I am going clubbing after all.”

* * *

Dressed all in black, I check the straps on my thigh holster. The reassuring weight of my gun is a constant presence. My phone’s buzzing with texts from Alessandro, his concern evident, but I can’t afford distractions right now. I need to focus on my plans. Tonight, I’m on a mission, and I need to stay sharp.

At the Babinski club, the neon lights bathe the entrance in an eerie, crimson glow. I slip inside, trying to stay incognito. My eyes scan the room, taking in the lively dance floor, the crowded bar, and the people, who have no idea what’s about to unfold. I find a booth tucked away in a shadowy corner, the perfect vantage point to watch everything unfold.

Alessandro’s text notifications keep stacking up, asking if I’m okay. I ignore them all. I can’t let sentimentality cloud my judgment tonight. This mission is too important. The club’s patrons, lost in their own worlds, are oblivious to my presence, and that’s exactly how I want it.

The first night is a bust. I watch the faces, listen to conversations, but there’s nothing. It’s just a regular night at the club, people enjoying their drinks and the beat of the music. I sip my own cocktail, trying to blend in, but my mind is elsewhere.

The second night, it’s more of the same. The hours pass slowly, my patience wearing thin. I feel like a predator lurking in the dark, waiting for the right moment to strike. But it doesn’t come. Frustration simmers beneath my calm exterior.

The third night, I’m starting to lose hope. The minutes drag on, and I wonder if I’m chasing shadows, if my plans will ever bear fruit. I can’t afford to give up, not when the truth might be right around the corner.

* * *

Thursday evening rolls around, and the anticipation is unbearable. Alessandro’s knock on my door sends a shiver down my spine, but I can’t let him in, not now. I sit in silence, pretending I’m not home, the pounding of my heart echoing in my ears. He knocks and knocks, but eventually, he gives up. I see the text on my phone, his worry evident.

Hey! Check in with me, Rachel. It has been days

I ignore the text.

Later that evening, I arrive at the club. The place is packed. People are already on the dance floor, lost in the pulsing rhythm.

I blend in, my heart pounding with every step. The music washes over me, a chaotic symphony of voices and laughter. The air is heavy with anticipation, with secrets hanging in the air like a promise.

Hours pass, and as the night grows darker, I realize that the chances of me finding the information I need are slim. But then, as if fate has finally decided to throw me a bone, I see something that stops me in my tracks.

My target is here.

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