22. Ava
22
Ava
M y shaking body leaned against the outside wall, the sweat slicking my skin as my eyes darted around the floor.
What the hell was happening?
"Apartment is clear." Nate walked out of my little studio flat, glanced both ways down the hall, and brought me inside—my ass plunking on the couch. He sat across from me, his biceps seemingly larger than in the last couple of hours I'd seen him. "Do you know why he attacked you? Did he rob you? Try anything else?"
I shuddered, my shoulders hunched as I punted my shoes off and tucked my legs underneath me, throwing a blanket over my lower half for good measure.
The man had every opportunity to make things ten times worse, but he'd stuck to his mission—trying to scare me.
Mission accomplished.
"He threatened me."
"How so?"
I took in a deep breath and picked at the fabric. "That story I've been writing. It's led me down a weird rabbit hole I haven't quite found the answers to."
"Okay, that's vague."
I sighed. "Sorry, it's just..." I don't know who I can trust. "There's been a string of raids recently, and this new drug—a drug that everyone seems to have heard about, except for the public." I gritted my teeth and interlaced my fingers in front of me. "The police department and the Mayor. At least I believe he's in on it since he threatened me today, too, and now this..."
Do I keep going?
"I even had a chemist look at the drug."
Nate's eyebrows lifted. "A chemist?"
"To find out about the drug itself, but the stupid dealer swapped it with an aspirin and left me with nothing." I looked away from him. "It's flooding the market, and they’re hiding it."
"Maybe the government is trying to handle it quietly. Like the DEA."
"Don't you think we would've seen DEA agents around town? My sources would have seen them or known about them, but it's like a hunting blind out there." I shrugged and shifted. "I have this bad feeling in my stomach, you know? It's not like I chose this story; it fell into my lap, and now it seems like everyone is against me finding out what’s really going on here."
Nate narrowed his eyes. "How did it fall into your lap?"
"I had an anonymous message."
"You got an anonymous message from someone?"
I nodded. "And even with a clue-giving angel on my shoulder, I still have no idea where I'm going with this." I shrugged. "Even with the message they sent me before I left work today."
"What did it say?" Nate's jaw pulsed, his brows narrowed.
No way do I tell him.
I can't involve him in this tangled web.
Can I?
Even I thought the words coming out of my mouth were nuts.
"It's stupid, and it'll never work."
Nate shrugged and leaned forward. "Even so, let's hear it."
I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. "They want me to break into the Mayor's safe somehow. Whatever is in there is vital for my story."
"You're not planning on following through with that, though, right?" Nate dragged his fingers through his hair, his shoulders pulling back.
"I haven't decided. I'm not some covert spy trained in this crap."
What if they weren't there to help me?
What if Mr. Anonymous was sending me this ridiculously illegal option to trap me?
Swiping the blanket back, I stood and walked into the kitchen, his body shifting toward me. "I'd never drag you into my mess, just so you know." The tea kettle sat on the stove, filled and ready, waiting for the heat beneath. "I probably shouldn't have even called you, but…" My body shuddered as I turned the stove dial.
"Ava." His footsteps stopped behind me, and then his arms wrapped around my waist. "I really like you, but don't you think committing a felony is a little above and beyond the line of duty?"
The corner of my mouth curled up, warmth blooming within me. "I don't know what I'm going to do." Especially after this altercation. I spun in his arms, then entwined our fingers together, his warmth seeping into my palms. "What do you think I should do?"
He huffed. "I don't know. I don't want to be considered the bad guy here, but the Mayor's office? Do you think that's a wise choice?"
"No." I shrugged. "But if it exposes whatever is going on here, don't you think it's worth a shot?"
"It doesn't seem like the story is worth the jail time or the death threats."
"I think it is."
He pushed me against the counter, his hands slipping from mine as he pinned my hips. "If you insist on doing this, then I'm going with you."
Twisting, I struggled out of his hold, but he held tight. "I can't ask you to help me. It's illegal."
"You didn't ask. I'm telling you. If you insist, then I'm helping. I'm the best bet you have with not getting caught."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's a bit cocky, don't 'chya think?"
He shrugged. "Might be, but it's true. I've had my fair share of covert operations in the military. I know how to get in and out quickly and quietly."
I snorted. "I never pegged the Marines for doing anything quiet."
He let out a low chuckle, his grip loosening. "We have our moments."
The tea kettle screamed, blowing the lid on our moment.
His hands fell off of my hips, and I flipped the dial off. "I thought you'd be upset finding out that I'm about to do something like this, not volunteer to join in."
Nate shrugged as a sly smile formed. "It's kind of sexy. And to be fair, you left me with no choice here. I either turn you in or make sure you don't get caught."
" Um... turning me in sounds like the better option for you."
"Not from my perspective."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Are we bad people?"
He cocked his head to the side. "I think it's okay to do bad things for the greater good."
"That might as well be my mantra at this point."
"Does that mean you'll accept my help?" He stepped back as I grabbed a mug and poured the boiling water into it, steeping my tea bag.
"To commit a crime? You didn't exactly give me a choice in the matter." We shared an amused smile, my rapid heartbeat thumping in my ears.
How did someone like him even exist?
"Consider it our next date, then."