Chapter 6
Taking risks came with the dangers of the job. But this kind of risk might get him killed.
Or worse—fired.
Rafe didn’t care. When it came to Hernandez and how the bastard was no doubt distributing drugs that his own goddaughter had nearly eaten, well, he got a little mad.
Nothing else mattered but nailing the son of a bitch.
The task force had heard Hernandez expected a large shipment of fentanyl to his expensive mansion on Starfish Island.
Rafe long suspected the drug dealer was smuggling in drugs from Mexico using sleek racing boats he owned.
The boats docked at his private mansion, and Rafe suspected the drugs were unloaded under the cover of night.
For the past six months, no activity was seen, but they’d received word things had picked up around the mansion.
Boats were seen unloading crates of everything from silverware and glassware to linens.
Illicit drugs were nestled inside those crates. He’d bet his badge on it. Bastard was using his nephew’s wedding as cover to smuggle drugs.
In all the instances law enforcement tried to catch him, Hernandez evaded them.
Couldn’t even get enough probable cause for a search warrant. All Rafe needed was photographic evidence the drugs were on Hernandez’s estate and they could obtain a search warrant and finally nail the dealer.
He pulled the ball cap low over his eyes against the noonday sun. He wore loose khaki pants and a long-sleeved gray shirt over a plain white T-shirt. The pickup truck he drove had a sign that read Lopez Flowers and Landscaping.
To add to his disguise, he’d shaved off his short beard.
He had the worried sister in tow. He needed Allison there. Not so much to gain access, but because Diana was an unknown and he knew Allison.
Protest she might, but when it came to getting a job done, she was smooth professionalism.
The woman could lie with the best of them. Convincing enough to sell an air-conditioner to a scientist living in the Arctic Circle.
He didn’t trust her fully, but he knew she would not jeopardize this opportunity.
Not because of her own pretty hide, but her sister’s.
Like him, Allison would do anything for her family. Including sneak him onto the Hernandez compound on the pretext of hiring him as a florist and landscaper for the wedding.
He consulted his burner phone. No wire or button camera, either. Hernandez would surely have devices to scan for that. But he was ready.
A late model black sedan pulled up to the curb. Rafe watched as Allison got out of the passenger side and came over. They’d agreed to meet in the shopping plaza of a well-known Miami mall.
Her gaze raked over him once, twice.
“You look different.”
Rafe rubbed his smooth cheeks. “I shaved.”
“Hope you showered as well.”
He gave a faint smile. “Yeah, I did.”
Allison glanced at the truck.
“You can’t take that onto Starfish Island. You’re coming with us.”
“I know. This is my cover. In case.”
“In case what? You need to cut some grass along the way?”
Allison always had been cheeky. “In case anyone is watching you and your sister, and me by default.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Let’s go.”
“Wait.” He glanced at the waiting car, where her sister sat behind the wheel. “Same rules as your last assignment. If anything goes south, or sideways, you and your sister get the hell out of there. If you even get a whiff of danger, it’s over. Get in the car and leave.”
Allison didn’t even blink. “What about you?”
Was that a flicker of concern in her eyes? “I’m a trained agent. I can take care of myself. I’ve done many undercover assignments.”
“Oh? You won’t fool anyone like that. I made it clear my sister agreed to this because she thinks you’re a potential friend...with benefits. So act as if you like me and we aren’t standing here having a convo about yard clippings. Diana’s sure to be watching us.”
Rafe hesitated only a minute and then briefly touched his mouth to hers. To his shock, Allison threw her arms around his neck and gave him a deep kiss. The kind of kiss a woman in love would give to her man, but whoa, he hadn’t been expecting anything more than a peck on the mouth.
This was a full head-on collision with a soft, warm mouth that tasted like sin and sunshine with hints of peppermint and coffee.
Rafe slid his arms around her slim waist and pulled her closer, wanting more.
Forget looking good for her sister. He wanted this, from the moment she’d sat in his office months ago, scowling at him in pure defiance when he’d coerced her into becoming a confidential informant.
Allison made a little humming sound, and as his tongue was about to invade her mouth, a car horn honked.
They jumped back. Color suffused her cheeks. She licked her lips and looked as confused and stunned as he felt.
“Guess we’d better go.” He jerked a thumb at the car. “Your sister’s waiting.”
He opened the passenger door for her and then climbed into the back. Diana, in the driver’s seat, didn’t turn to greet him.
“Hello, Ms. Lexington. I’m Rafael Lopez,” he said, using a distant cousin’s last name. “You can call me Rafe.”
In the rearview mirror, he saw disapproval in her brown eyes. “I don’t know why Ally thinks your flower shop can help with the wedding.”
She turned to her sister and frowned. “You owe me for this.’
Surprised to see Allison look meek, he watched her. “I know, sis.”
Diana turned her attention to the back seat. “Rafe, what are your intentions toward my sister?”
Rafe almost choked. “Ah, pardon?”
“Dating. You’re not using her for sex only, are you?”
Allison shot him a pleading look from the front seat.
He wanted to laugh. Yeah, I’d love to use your sister for sex, after that kiss. More than sex. Felt like she wanted the same. But that’s none of your damn business.
He thought of several things to say in Spanish, none of them appropriate. “My intentions are honorable.”
Honorable in using her as a CI to bring down a drug empire.
“I don’t understand. This is the first time Ally’s said anything about you and it seems like she is mad about you.”
So Diana had watched. Silently he thanked Allison for putting on such a good show. Yet he wondered if it had been an act because, damn.
Rafe slid a hand between the seats and gripped Allison’s cold, clammy palm. “I asked her to keep our relationship a secret. I wasn’t sure if your family would approve of me because I’m Cuban American.”
“Well, that’s silly. None of my family is prejudiced against immigrants. Ally, didn’t you tell Rafe anything?”
“I told him enough.” Allison’s voice remained tight.
“I don’t even know where you met. Ally’s been scarce on details. Rafe, how did you meet my sister?”
Rafael’s gaze met Allison’s as she turned her head. “Motorcycle rally.”
True enough.
“Rafe likes to ride as well,” Allison said a little too quickly.
“Ally said you’re trustworthy.” A haughty sniff. “And you’re trying to help your cousin expand his business. You’d better be good at your job.”
Oh, I’m really good at my job. Soon enough, you’ll find out just how good. “Yes, miss,” he murmured with as much meekness as possible.
Another glance in the mirror. “You understand the home where we are going is very exclusive? And I may hire you for the wedding only as a favor to my sister? There are rules at the house. You stick with us at all times. No wandering off. Hector has a large security team, and I’d hate to see you tossed out for prying. ”
“Yes, miss.” I know how exclusive this house is, and how the man who owns it should be sitting in a federal prison for the rest of his natural life.
He began asking Diana questions about her preferences for the wedding. What kind of flowers, how many. Rafe jotted down notes in the electronic pad he carried. He’d spent more than a few hours last night, after releasing Allison from custody, prepping for this assignment.
Before today, he couldn’t tell a peony from a petunia. Now? He knew the best dealer for the potted palms Diana wanted, and how to get the dozens of lilies that were her favorite flowers.
He actually did have a cousin who owned a flower shop. Mike had prepped him on the landscaping and floral arrangements early this morning.
His cover established, he only had to play the part.
Falling silent, he let the two women talk about the upcoming wedding. While pretending to consult his notes, he listened to Allison argue with her sister that Hector’s mansion was too extravagant and pretentious.
Diana seemed agitated as she navigated over the causeway to South Beach that led to the barrier island that accessed the elite community of Starfish Island.
“I know what I said, Ally. But Paul wants this. He...he feels like he owes it to his uncle. Hector is footing the entire bill because Paul is his godson and he wanted to do right by him.”
“Diana, what about what you want? Capitulating to your groom’s requests is no way to begin a marriage. Why can’t you compromise and have the wedding at Mom and Dad’s house? They have a large garden and...”
“Stop it, Ally. It’s a done deal.” He saw her gaze dart to the rearview mirror, and she lowered her voice. “I know you dislike Hector, but he’s not the criminal everyone says he is. He has a legitimate business as an importer of racing boats. Nothing more. They’re jealous of his wealth.”
Legitimate business. Right. He’d heard that before. Legitimate business masking illegal activities.
Like physicians who wrote unnecessary prescriptions for opiates just for the kickback cash.
His thoughts drifted to when Florida operated pain clinics a few years ago, with doctors writing fake prescriptions to anyone who had an ache.
Opiates and cash were passing through hands faster than spring breakers went through beer.
They’d shut down the pain clinics after a thorough investigation.
Another score for the feds, the good guys who prevented more overdosing.