Never Say Never (Vitale Brothers Book 4)

Chapter 5

My laptop was open,a third can of energy drink sat open next to me, and I bounced my leg up and down. I scoured every known file in the system. Someone had to have slipped up somewhere with a name or an initial. After five hours on my day off, I wasn”t any closer to finding who the rat was. I pinched the bridge of my nose and leaned back in my seat. This shit was getting more complicated by the day. York already came to the meeting with more information then he should have had. My idiot brothers and their love lives weren”t a secret, but aside from a few blips, the details were too accurate.

I glanced at the wall in my small flat. Pictures hung up of various members. Some I knew personally, others entered the family long after I was gone. Asking Benito was out of the question. My older brother was paranoid, he”d only relaxed somewhat since getting married, but even then, he didn”t allow anyone too close. Knowing him, he was bound to clean house before the snitch was located. The streets would not only be flooded with the blood of our enemies but potentially innocent members’ as well.

The wheels on my desk chair skirted over the hardwood floor as I pushed away from the small, flimsy desk. I didn”t have enough room in my small place to have anything too big. I headed over to the wall, scanning each picture hoping someone stood out to me. Anyone would be fine. I needed somewhere to start. York wasn”t one to slip up, so finding clues in the files turned out to be a bust. Not that I wasn”t going to try again and again.

”Which of you fuckers needs to die?” I tapped the picture of one of my distant cousins. He had that snitch look about him. His patchy beard, glazed over brown eyes, liked he”d been dipping into the supply, and with a suit two sizes too big for his small frame.

I could trap him, get him in a spare warehouse and have a chat like the old days. I looked at my manicured fingernails and sighed. Being an FBI agent wasn”t a clean job but it wasn”t dirty either. My hands practically felt pristine from the lack of blood I”d shed.

My phone screen lit up on the edge of my desk, vibrating and moving closer to falling off. Who the fuck is calling me on my day off? If it was someone from the team, they were going to get a solid no, and I was certain I hadn”t set up any hookups. I was still reeling from my last one.

My stomach clenched and my cock twitched in the confines of my shorts. Remembering the long stretch of York Washington”s neck, his thick lashes practically resting on his cheeks and the slight flush under his deep brown skin was going to force me to jerk off again. It wouldn”t be the first time, and I seriously doubted it was going to be the last. There were a lot of things I hadn”t expected that night, but one of them was definitely the way my boss responded to my touch. At work, he was commanding and an unyielding force. In the club, outside of his element, he was different.

And he felt so fucking good.

I froze the moment the screen came into view. York”s name flashed. Nothing went through my head as the world around me seemed to go still. I snapped out of my daze right before the phone vibrated off the desk. I answered it.

”Hello?”

York”s voice was rich, and I was thrust back into the club remembering how good he felt pressed against my ass as I rolled my hips against him. Thought for sure he”d shove me away, what I hadn”t expected was the hard-on rubbing against me, teasing me relentlessly. It had taken everything in my power that night not to drop to my knees in the middle of the dance floor and drench York”s cock in my spit.

”Paul?”

I shook my head, forcing my pressing desire for my boss down. ”Yeah, sorry I was?—”

I glanced around the room with the scattered paperwork, laptop with plenty of tabs open and the board of crazy on the wall. ”Working.”

”On your day off?”

”I don”t turn heads by only working a certain amount of hours.”

York hummed.

”What”s up, boss man?” I grabbed the chair, swiveling it around before plopping back down, my leg constantly bouncing. The amount of energy drinks I”d consumed coursing through my veins made me feel closer to twenty than thirty-six.

”Are you busy tonight?”

I smirked on instinct. I knew that tone of voice. I”d heard it plenty of times, a hookup coming back to ask for a second round. What could I say? I was good at what I did. I wasn”t opposed to repeats; they could be fun. Until they weren”t. The entire workweek York had treated me like nothing happened between us. Not that I didn”t do the same, but for him to be calling meant maybe he was looking for another taste.

”No plans.”

York cleared his throat. ”Okay, good.”

”Why, want to come over?”

”I will hang up, Paul.”

”Don”t, sorry. Go ahead.”

Laughter trickled over the line and wormed its way down my spine. It was deep and rich, filling me with a warmth that both excited and comforted me.

”I was planning on going out again and was wondering if you”d come along.”

I rested my arms on the back of the chair, staring ahead but not seeing anything as I imagined York in the club again, his arms around my waist, his lips wet from alcohol and maybe from a kiss.

”Dancing seems like a lot of work, maybe we should take it to the next level,” I said.

”The next level? What are you talking about?”

”Dinner.”

”Paul, we can”t?—”

”I know you”re my boss in the office, but outside of it, we”re two normal guys meeting up for dinner.”

York went silent, and I knew this was my chance. If I didn”t convince him to go out to dinner with me, I”d lose the little opportunity I had. I didn”t date. There was no future for me and whoever I found as Paul. It wasn”t my real identity, and I meant what I said the other night; no one could handle my kind of love. But I needed to get closer to my boss. My attraction to him aside, I needed to know every little detail about the investigation if I was going to keep my brothers safe.

”We had a great time at The Apple, right?”

”Fun, but it wasn”t appropriate. As your superior, this is wrong. I wasn”t calling for a repeat.”

Ouch. I brushed off the disappointment and pushed on.

”It”s only wrong if you show me favoritism in the office. Last I checked, you”re a hardass regardless of what we did or didn”t do.”

”Paul.”

”A dinner, what”s wrong with that? It will be two men getting together to have some more fun.” I took York”s silence for a sign to keep going. ”If at any point I make you uncomfortable, you can leave. I won”t ever bring it up, and we can act like it never happened.”

”Is that a line you use often?”

My head fell to the side as I tried to think of which line he was referring to. ”What?”

”We can act like it never happened. You want me to forget it all?”

No.I bit my tongue, reminding myself that it was my team leader I was talking to. Not only that, he was actively trying to bring each of my brothers down.

”It”s to put you at ease.”

”Does it work on others?”

I laughed, playing off how uncomfortable it made me. ”I”m not forgettable, so no.”

”You”re not wrong.”

”Huh?” Did I hear him right?

”Fine, dinner.” York cleared his throat. ”It can”t hurt, right?”

”Right.” I wasn”t so sure about that anymore, but regardless I”d gotten York Washington to agree to a dinner. ”Let”s meet in the upper west side in an hour?” I checked the clock on my computer screen to make sure I could make it there in time.

”Yeah, why not?” York said. “Should I wear something specific?”

”Wear whatever you would on a date.”

York”s silence was telling. ”I haven”t been on one of those in a while. At least not a successful one.”

”The bad ones don”t count. Just like anyone who cums in the first two minutes of sex, it just never happened.”

”Your logic is severely warped. I”d suggest a psych eval but I know all of them are no longer able to see you.”

I groaned. Sleeping around hadn”t been an issue before, but I hadn”t thought in a million years I”d be getting this close to my boss either. ”About that.”

”You don”t have to explain, Paul. I know what kind of man you are.”

”That”s not all I”m good at. I can show you a good time in and out of bed.”

”I”ll see you in an hour.” York hung up the phone, and I was left still reeling from the fact that he’d called at all.

Jumping out of the desk chair, I headed toward my closet with little to no plan. I knew why I needed to get close, and it had everything to do with work, but I couldn”t crush the excitement bubbling under the surface. One small taste of York had only fed the fire of desire I”d carried around for him since we met.

My email chimed on my computer, pulling my thoughts away from York for a split second. A quick glance let me know the chick in the filing department wanted to meet up for drinks. Sleeping with her to get the restricted files was easy, but meeting up with her wasn”t going to fly.

I sent a quick reply that was straight to the point. They knew what kind of guy I was. No strings attached, but for some reason every now and then there was someone who swore they could change me. Make me into the loving, doting man they craved. I wasn”t anyone”s husband material.

Another chime came through. I didn”t bother to check her response, instead, I finished getting ready. I opted for the black button up, rolled up my sleeves, and paired it with dark slacks. My hair was still bright blond, like I was some fuck toy from California instead of the dark brown tan that I was steadily missing. I popped the blue contacts in. One look in the mirror, and I let out a series of curses.

”I look like a gangster wannabe.” Like I grew up in a mansion and never saw a real fight a day in my life, let alone killed anyone. The shirt was off and tossed halfway across the room before I strolled back into the closet. I put on and threw off five more shirts. Work attire was out as well. I needed to make sure York didn”t think about the job for a second while we were at dinner. The moment he did, I knew he”d walk away. He was a by-the-book kind of guy.

I grabbed a light brown sweatshirt off the hanger and moved to the mirror holding it up to my body trying to see if it worked. A black chain and matching watch and it would go together. I grabbed my black loafers and checked the time before spritzing myself with my cologne. Time wasn”t on my side, but I couldn”t very well not show up to dinner not looking like a wet dream. I brushed my hair back, hating the bleach blond more than ever, but knowing damn well I couldn”t do anything about it. A few strands artfully fell forward and I left them before racing out the door. I made sure to throw all four locks, and headed out. Five flights of stairs did little to take off the edge of energy bouncing around inside of me.

I spotted my reasonably priced Toyota, a car meant for a normal man. Paul Gallo was the embodiment of normal. I personally would have preferred something more flashy, but that was meant for another lifetime. Before I knew it, I was driving through New York traffic with ease. My mind was on one person as I headed toward the upper west side. Everything passed in a blur. Traffic lights were nothing more than obstacles I attempted to avoid, and traffic was a pain.

I checked the time on the dash more times than I slowed down for pedestrians. I flipped a few off as they thought it was the perfect time to walk in the middle of the goddamn street. My knuckles blanched as I tightened them around the steering wheel. The thought of running them over, even the sweet old lady, was tempting, but then I”d be even later than I already was.

I was supposed to be there ten minutes ago. Now it looked like I asked him out and stood him up. Ringing took the place of Run DMC. York”s name was on the screen, and for the second time today, I was shocked.

I didn”t hesitate as I clicked the green button to answer.

”I”m not standing you up, I”m on my way.”

”Dad, where are you going?”

”You look handsome and smell good.”

Two distinctive light voices fluttered over the line before York”s deeper one came through.

”Out, girls.”

”But, Dad.” There was some whining and hardcore negotiating before York came on the line.

I slowed down before I got in an accident.

”Sorry about that,” York said.

Worry, an unfamiliar feeling, twisted and turned in the pit of my stomach. ”You aren”t standing me up are you?”

”What?”

My fingers thrummed against the steering wheel. I refused to acknowledge it was nerves; it was all the caffeine I had pumping through me. Nothing more. I never got nervous, not with women, men, or anyone in between.

”No, I”m not. I was letting you know my nanny needed to go out for something really quickly, so I”m going to be a bit late.”

The relief that rushed through me all at once had everything to do with me getting closer to York for information and not because I was actually looking forward to dinner.

”Good, I thought I”d have to beg,” I said.

”You beg? Maybe I still want to hear it.”

I groaned, he shouldn”t flirt with me like this. ”No, you wouldn”t.”

York chuckled and it filled my entire car. Warmth tingled through each of my limbs. If I wasn”t who I was and he was anyone else in this world, I might actually attempt to possess him.

But the world didn”t work that way. I looked at the clock. ”How far is your place from the upper west side?”

”About forty minutes depending on traffic.”

”I”ll pick you up.”

”I don”t think that”s a good idea.”

”Why? I won”t come up if you”re nervous about me meeting your kids.” Still couldn”t believe he was a dad. Picturing my hardass boss as a loving and doting father wasn’t difficult. If anything it fit him even more. He probably spoiled them rotten.

”I don”t invite people over.”

”I”m not people. You know me.” The fake me, anyway.

York”s silence filled the car. I pulled over, waiting for his answer and hoping he”d say yes. No one had York”s address; it wasn”t on file. Everything about my boss was a damn secret, but I was already learning more about him than anyone else. It shouldn”t tickle the darker side of me, the one that relished in blood and screams of my enemies, but it did. I had parts of York that no one else had access to.

”Paul, I don”t know. My girls are my entire life, and work is already dangerous. I keep it separate from my private life for a reason.”

Shit, I needed to get him off this train of thought. He was bound to cancel the dinner if he continued down the twisted route of safety and boundaries.

”I promise to stay in the car and wait for you. You don”t have to tell me your actual address. We won”t even go far for dinner. I”ll pick a place on your side of town.”

York was quiet again. Nerves made me twitchy, my fingers steadily drumming like I was waiting on my dream prom date to say yes after building up the courage to ask. Although, getting a date for prom hadn”t been hard for me. Gin and I had swooped in and taken two girls each. It had been a night of reckless abandonment. Thinking of my twin made me miss him terribly. If I didn”t know staying undercover was saving him in the long run, I”d give up and go back.

”York—”

”Fine.” York gave in and rattled off his address.

I had it plugged in and smiled at the fact I was only twenty minutes away.

”Be there in fifteen.”

”Okay.” York hung up, and I turned the car around.

I was slowly inching my way in. A part of me felt guilty, but it was beaten away instantly when I remembered how the world saw the Vitales. We were nothing more than criminals and low lives meant for two things. Imprisonment and death. Joke was on them. We made the world ours. My brothers and I clawed our way from mid-tier to the top. And I”d be damned if I was the reason why we fell.

”Sorry.”York buckled up and stared at me from my passenger seat. His large frame filled out the cream colored shirt. The top buttons were undone, leaving his dark brown skin exposed. My mouth instantly salivated, wanting nothing more than to run my tongue over every exposed piece of flesh.

”Huh?” I asked, completely missing what he said.

York huffed out a laugh, his chest rose with the sound driving me crazier. ”I never thought I”d have to say this. But my eyes are up here.”

”Yeah, but where I”m looking is good too.”

”Paul.” He snapped his fingers at me, and I reluctantly looked up. I really shouldn”t say reluctantly when York was incredibly handsome. From his groomed facial hair that was pitch black to his round eyes framed by thick lashes.

”You look good.”

”Thank you.” York”s gaze was swift but I didn”t miss the desire in them. ”You too.”

I pulled away from the curb. His building was a lot nicer than mine. I committed the address to memory. Even if I was never invited over, I”d have it.

”What are you in the mood for?” I asked.

”Italian.”

”Good choice.” I tried not to let it come through my voice how close he was to getting more Italian than he could ever ask for. I plugged in one of my favorite Italian restaurants into the GPS.

Lucciola was one of the best in Manhattan, and getting reservations on a short notice would be impossible for Paul Gallo, but a Vitale? There was no such problem. I sent a quick message to cash in an old favor and our names were placed on the list. I found parking a block away but it wasn”t so cold that it would be a bother to walk.

We got out of the car, and instantly, I was hit with the feeling of eyes on me. My skin crawled like a bunch of cockroaches ran over it. York stiffened next to me as I made my way to the sidewalk.

I wasn”t going to bring it up, but I could tell I wasn”t the only one feeling it. ”See anyone?”

York glanced at me before forcing himself to relax. ”No. You?”

”Nope.”

”Have a vengeful ex looking for you?”

That would be the easy answer, but I wasn”t getting that feeling. If there was one thing I lived by, it was my instincts. I trusted them explicitly.

”I don”t have exes.”

”Then what do you call the people you”ve broken up with?”

”Never had to do that either. The moment people get even a whiff of me being serious, they are on the next plane out of New York.”

York laughed but I was being serious. I joined in anyway, knowing he”d never really understand what kind of man I truly was. Paul was probably the nice guy, the one who flirted too much but would love sweetly once given the chance. I was nothing like that. I would possess and own every inch of my person. I”d want it so they couldn”t breathe without me.

I quickly glanced around, but there was no one in sight. The overwhelming feeling dissipated the closer we got to the restaurant, leaving me even more confused.

”Could be your ex or a baby mom,” I teased.

York stiffened next to me again, and I knew for sure it had nothing to do with being watched. His stride slowed down and he avoided my gaze.

”It couldn”t be her.”

A large part of my brain said don”t ask, but it wasn”t as if I”d ever listened to it before. ”Why?” I barely kept myself from saying something stupid as unwarranted jealousy took over. My stomach twisted with unease as I noticed the protectiveness wafting off York.

”She wasn”t like that. Even when Dawn figured out I was gay, she was very supportive.”

He talked about her as if she wasn”t around anymore. I opened and closed my mouth as I caught on. ”Sorry for your loss.”

York nodded, not saying anything more about it. I”d heard he had some family issues in the past but finding out any information on it was damn near impossible. His old team was tight-lipped and scattered around the world. Information was great, but I knew when to back off certain subjects.

”We”re here,” I pointed out as the light from Lucciola’s brightened up the outside eating area.

York seemed to shake off whatever was happening in his head. ”Let”s go in.”

I smiled, trying to win him back over. I never tried hard, never needed to, but I was putting in actual effort for York. We headed toward the hostess, a redhead with thick false lashes on and her hair in a messy bun.

”Name the reservation is under?”

”Oh, we didn?—”

”Gallo,” I said over York.

He glanced my way, a single thick brow lifted in question.

I shrugged. ”I”m impressive, right?”

York shook his head as the girl looked a little too long for my name. I was going to make heads spin if they embarrassed me in front of my boss.

”I”m sorry, but—” She cut herself off stopping on the last page. ”Here you are. Sorry, I almost missed the last-minute entry.”

That comment wasn”t needed but I let it roll off my shoulders as I grinned at her. ”It”s quite all right.”

Her cheeks flooded as she met my gaze. ”I”ll show you both to your table.”

I let her lead the way as we waltzed behind her.

”Is she your type?”

”Huh?” I glanced over my shoulder at York. He nodded at the hostess.

”She has two legs.”

I laughed, unable to help myself. ”If I could, I”d look only at you, but then I”d bump into everything, and probably break my neck.”

York stared at me before turning my head around to face forward as we approached an empty table.

”You”re ridiculous.”

He had no fucking clue.

”Here you two are. Your waiter, Jessica, will be with you shortly.”

We took our seats, and once again, I was faced with York, still floored by the fact I was having dinner with him. His low cropped hair had soft waves that I just knew would feel good against the pads of my fingers. His shoulders were broad, stretching the shirt he decided to wear in the most appetizing way. A gold chain hung loosely around his throat. I wondered what it would feel like to grab it, and yank him close for a kiss.

”You”re staring,” York pointed out.

”Kind of hard not to.”

”Stop flirting so much and pick out what you want to eat.”

I glanced down at the menu. ”But you”re more appetizing.”

The corner of York”s mouth twitched. ”Say another stupid line, and I will leave. This isn”t a game.”

”I”m serious, but fine.”

”Hi, I”m Jessica! I”ll be your waitress. What can I start you two off with?”

We both ordered water. I was pretty certain it had everything to do with how we”d felt, as if we were being watched outside. There were too many people in the restaurant to tell if the same feeling was coming back.

There was a silence left behind when the waitress left, one I wasn”t familiar with. I cleared my throat, dragging up every ounce of experience I had. ”So wha?—”

”Sorry about earlier,” York said.

I shut my mouth, letting my words die off. ”What?”

”About Dawn. It”s still a hard subject for me to talk about. In fact, I don”t.”

That can”t be healthy, then again what the hell would I know about mental health?”We all have something we protect. Sorry I brought it up.”

He shook his head. ”You wouldn”t have known.”

”Yeah, but I have a tendency to stick my foot in my mouth.”

York didn”t argue with me. The tension between us eased as I laughed. Dating wasn’t my specialty. Sure, I could take someone out, sweet talk them all night, and then break their back in the bedroom but this felt different. I wanted to know more about York.

”Okay, so outside of work, what are your hobbies?” I asked.

”Nothing.”

”We all have something.”

”Then what”s yours?”

”I like trying out some of my mom”s old recipes, and on occasion, I like to go to the batting cages.” The look on York”s face said he wasn”t expecting my answers. ”I am more than a man whore.”

”Never said you were one.”

”Yeah, but I know that”s what they say about me around the office.”

York stared at me. ”Ever thought about not having relations with people you work with?”

I shrugged. They were all temporary anyway. ”Never crossed my mind.” I gestured at him to speak. ”Hobbies.”

He moved in his seat. ”I really can”t think of any. I mostly work, and if I”m not working, I’m trying to be a good parent. Although, not sure I”m doing well on that last part.”

”Can”t be worse than my dad.”

”Wasn”t yours the football coach of your high school?”

Right.The made up good father that did nothing but cheer me on till his dying breath. I nodded. ”Yeah, but he placed impossible expectations on me. He wanted his family to mean something.” I waved it off. ”I’m sure you”re doing great. Mind if I ask how old they are?”

York hesitated before relaxing a little more. ”My daughter’s are ten. Twins.”

Twins. The moment I heard it, I smiled. If they were anything like me and Gin, they shared a bond that no one else would or could understand. They came into the world together. That was special.

”Did you always want kids?”

York nodded. ”From the time I was young. What about you?”

”Fuck no.” I shook my head before I could really think about the question. My lips were moving on their own and my idiot brain skipped the filter option. ”Me and kids are a recipe for disaster. My life is hell, I couldn”t imagine dragging a kid into it.”

York”s shoulders visibly dropped and I watched in real time as the hard edge came back into his eyes. The wall that was always present at work was back up.

”I mean—” My cell phone rang and I chastised myself for forgetting that the ringer was on. I grabbed it, not recognizing the number. I would normally ignore it, but with the current war happening between my family, the Triads, and Aceto”s, I couldn”t risk it. ”I”ll be right back.”

I was up, needing a second to come up with what to say to York. It wasn”t a lie; me and children? Who in their right mind would trust a kid in my hands? But I couldn”t exactly explain why to York either. He looked so disappointed. Why?

”What?” I answered the phone as I headed out front for a little privacy. I moved around the group of people trying to get in as the dinner rush started to flood in. The voice was broken up and the words were unclear as I tried to listen in. I glanced around, seeing the small alley leading to the back of the restaurant. I went in that direction. I could barely squeeze through, forced to walk sideways as I plugged one ear with my finger and pressed the phone tightly against the other. ”Hello?”

My agitation was growing with every second I was away from York. My stupid brain and mouth were going to ruin everything. He was probably never going to give me another chance. I could kiss the second date goodbye, not that it was a date in the first place. Not a real one. Irritation worked through me. At this rate, I”d be at square one again with him maybe a few behind.

”I”m hanging up if you can”t talk.”

The voice came through clearer for a second. ”Chocolate candy bar for sale.”

Fuck, Benito code for call him ASAP came through clear as day. I hung up, knowing I”d have to get in contact with him soon. There had to be some time for me to slip away. I had my calendar up and looked everything over. I could do it on Wednesday. I had a few meetings, but I also had some fieldwork I could conveniently disappear from for an hour or two.

The soft crunch of paper under a shoe reached my ears, and the creepy feeling of being watched hit me full force. I didn’t move, my fingers still moving over the screen as I pretended I didn’t notice my little visitor. He crept closer, his breathing light as he moved in on me. I relaxed the moment I felt him in my space. I moved toward the back door of the restaurant as soon as he launched himself toward me.

I twisted and grabbed the back of his neck, using his momentum to slam his head into the brick wall. I did it again and again, not really hearing the blood curdling cries.

The back door opened and I grabbed the young guy who stepped out. He looked like a busboy, a stained apron tied around his waist. The joint slipped from between his fingers. I yanked him close.

“Wait right here,” I said. “You get me?”

He nodded hard. I took that as a tacit agreement and let him go before I returned to the man that had tried to sneak up on me. His head rested right between the door and door jam. I slammed not once, but three times until he went still.

This isn’t what an FBI agent would do. Even knowing that, I couldn”t quiet the side of me that had been starved out for so long. My Vitale blood screamed for me to exact our kind of violence on the piece of shit who was watching me and York. The thought of him sneaking up on York instead of me sent a white-hot rage through me.

I had every intention of killing him before the tiny voice in my head said to wait. My breathing was erratic but my heart rate was steady. I was born to kill, to erase my enemies” existence from the Earth. I”d forgotten how easily it came to me. I pressed two fingers to my attacker’s neck. He was still alive. Good. I hooked my hands under his arms carefully, and dragged him back, careful not to get his blood on me. I checked my clothes over quickly before glancing at the idiot who stood off to the side, frozen in fear.

”Phone.” The busboy shakily passed it to me. His pants had a wet spot and I stepped back. If York smelled blood and piss on me, I was a goner. The phone rang once. ”Take out for delivery.” I read off the address before ending the call.

It had been a while since I killed someone, maybe a few years. I was a bit rusty.

”You wouldn”t happen to have a bat on you, would you?” I asked the busboy.

He shook his head so hard, I swore the thing would come off.

”Didn”t think so.” I shoved my hair out of my face desperately, craving a smoke, but Paul Gallo didn”t do cigarettes. ”Look, some friends are coming to get this out the way.” I pointed to the man on the ground. He was more than likely an Aceto. I had no idea why he attacked me, but I was certain Enzo would find out. “Now normally, I would let you go, but you’ve seen entirely too much.”

”Wait—”

I didn”t let him reason with me; there was nothing he could say. He could swear he”d never tell a soul, but words were nothing more than pretty, empty promises. The moment he had a gun to his head, he”d spill it all. The only way I knew for sure he was going to keep his mouth shut was if he was dead. He let out a shout just as a random ambulance passed the busy street, drowning out his cry for help. I shoved my foot onto his chest, my hands on either side of his head after I tossed him to the ground. He instantly went to clawing at my loafers, trying to get free. I yanked back using my body weight and jerked to the right, full force. The resounding crack echoed up my fingertips and over my arms. His hands dropped to his sides as I twisted a little harder making sure to snap his neck.

I dropped him. He was a mess-free kill, unlike the groaning man on the ground. He was only alive due to the fact I needed answers. No one knew who I really was besides a handful of people. There was no way my cover had been blown already. The only other thing I could think of was they were targeting me because I was an FBI agent. If that was the case, everyone on my team could be in danger.

I cleaned off a few specs of his blood from my shoes. I wiped my hands and cleaned off anything I touched just in case. Tugging my phone out of my pocket once more, I checked the time. I’d been outside for fifteen minutes, leaving York waiting for me.

”Fuck.” I rushed back inside, pushing past people, not caring if a waiter or two tripped. I stopped at my table, only to realize York was gone.