Chapter 11
Adam
I’m worried about Nova.
I left the restaurant shortly after her and saw her and Cano around the corner.
He was close. If I know him, there was a subtle threat about staying quiet.
When he kissed her cheek, it took everything in me to not intervene.
I know better, though. Intervening would have put Nova on Oscar’s radar more, as well as me.
We need less heat on us, not more. I can’t give anyone in this crew ammunition.
If we decide later on to play the “being a couple” card then at least the decision is made by both of us.
If only she knew who you really were. Anything you do with her outside of friendship will be fake, or perceived fake when the truth comes out.
I keep pace with Nova and follow her, even in the taxi, to her apartment to make sure she gets there okay.
Then I spend all night parked in front of her place, as a sort of protector.
Yeah, fake my ass.
Me:
We could laminate the paper.
Nova:
If you want it to be discovered by every nosy old lady and curious toddler, sure.
Me:
Might be a little too overly cautious there. We’re talking about a strip club not a daycare.
Nova:
I feel like I’m barely being cautious enough. Maybe you should amp up yours, then you’ll come up with some better ideas.
Me:
A postcard?
Nova:
Veto.
Me:
What? Why?
Nova:
Same reason as above.
Me:
You’re just busting my balls.
Nova:
No, I’m trying to keep us both alive, dickhead.
I’ve been thinking about our potential signal, as well as how paranoid Nova’s been, and she’s right. I need to ramp up my precautions for myself, not just her. Which is why I’m at the edge of town, making a phone call.
“How’s the weather where you are?” Juliette asks instead of saying hello.
I sigh. “Sunny as ever. Some rain on the way, though.”
“Do you need Woodcroft?”
“No, just relay it all to him.”
“Whatcha got?” Juliette may joke around in the office, but when things are serious, she’s the first to focus and jump into her job.
“I’m making headway. Getting closer to the big drop. We have the drop-off location, or we will if it stays the same, and it’ll still take some time for O to fully trust me.”
“Okaaaay. Good progress report, but nothing groundbreaking.”
“I have a partner,” I mutter, afraid of Juliette’s reaction.
“A partner? Like a girlfriend, or someone helping you with this … assignment?”
“When have I ever gotten involved on assignment?” I scold, but the truth is, I want Nova. I just can’t have her with all of this at stake.
“There’s always a first time, geez. You’re a little touchy there, A.”
“There’s a woman who has motivation to be on our team. She’s helping me and, hopefully, I can help her in the end too.” I hold my breath, knowing Juliette is about to chew me out.
“Do you know what you’re doing, A?” she whispers.
Laugher is my immediate response even though none of this is funny. “God no. But there’s a light at the end of a very long tunnel, and I’m rolling with it.”
“Just … be careful. If I know you, and I’d like to think I do, you aren’t telling me who she is because you know there’s more to her and you’re scared to find out what it is. Whether that’s her identity or background, you don’t want to know. Living in LaLa land is dangerous, A. Watch your back.”
“Will do. I’ll call you when I know more.”
We hang up without another word, which leaves me thinking about Juliette’s words.
She’s right. I’m scared to death that things with Nova will blow back on me, but I believe her story.
Sure, I know there’s more to it somehow, but her motivation and her drive are true.
I feel it in my gut. And if there’s anything I’ve learned in all my years undercover is to trust my gut. It’s served me well this long.
My other phone rings, forcing me to pocket my burner and answer my “work” phone.
“Roth.”
“New drop-off. I haven’t gotten an update on your pick-up system. I was hoping you’d have the new setup ready to go, but it appears you do not. Have I misplaced my trust?” Oscar’s tone is unhappy.
“No, sir. I was going to work with Nova after her shift tonight and get it set up. When is the drop-off?”
“Three days from now. Get me the details by tomorrow, or I may be rethinking my plans.” The click of him hanging up echoes in my brain as the sliver of fear shoots down my spine.
Guess I’m heading to Bella’s.
Three hours later, I’m sipping on my club soda, trying desperately to keep my eyes open.
It’s been a long-ass day, but it’s no closer to being done until Nova is done dancing.
She spotted me almost immediately. I cocked my head toward the door, telling her we need to chat.
She subtly nodded back, and here I am, waiting until close.
Living this double life is about to kill me. I’m exhausted, and now is the time I need to be on top of my game.
The last dancer of the night finishes up, and the house lights come up, signaling I’m good to head toward the dressing room and wait for Nova.
“Fancy seeing you here.” Nova’s voice catches me off guard as I spot her leaning against the hallway wall.
“Thought I’d give you a ride home.” I snag the bag at her feet and direct her to the parking lot. Once she’s seating in the passenger seat, I grab the seatbelt and click it in before shutting her door and moving to the driver’s side.
Her mouth is wide open, and so are her eyes.
“What?”
“Umm, nothing.” She closes her mouth and shakes her head. “What warrants the surprise drop-in?”
“We need to finalize everything, and we need it ASAP.”
“A drop-off?”
“In the next couple of days, and our hands in this hang in the balance of making sure our system is foolproof.”
She looks out the windshield before turning to me. “So, let’s drive around and brainstorm.”
She points in a direction, so I wordlessly turn. It’s mostly residential ahead, so I break the silence until we get to a better area.
“Why were you shocked earlier?”
“When?” she asks, brows furrowed.
“When we got into the car.”
“I just didn’t know there were men out there who buckled women into a car. I thought chivalry was well and truly dead.” Her head shakes as she smiles.
“Guess you’ve been hanging out with the wrong ones.” I cringe internally because she’s been hanging out with cartel members. Of course they are assholes.
“Dating and men haven’t been a huge priority for me. Turn here.” She points to the left.
“How old were you when all this stuff with your brother happened?”
“Twenty-four.”
“Your brother was just starting out in life. Barely started his career and had everything ahead of him,” I say softly.
“So did I.” The sadness in her voice is unmistakable.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re caught up in all this shit too. And I have a hard time, based on your general treatment of me, believing that you are really Team Cano.”
My back stiffens. “Why’s that?”
“Because you’re kind. You protected me when I got involved in all of this.” Her hands wave around frantically. “I just think there’s more to the story here. I know you won’t tell me, but deep down … it feels like I can trust you. At least with all of this.”
“But not anything more personal,” I counter. I don’t know why I even go there. There’s no need to even consider anything more than helping her get out of this shithole.
“Take this road to the tree line,” she says softly, ignoring my statement. I make it all the way to the tree line before her voice pulls my focus. “It’s not that I don’t want anything more … personal. It’s that the world we’re in makes it too dangerous. You know this.”
“I do.” It doesn’t make me think about her in any other way than with attraction, but I do know we aren’t in a position to focus on anything other than nailing Oscar.
“Pull over here.” Nova gestures off to the side. It’s the perfect spot for any of our needs, off the beaten path but easy to get to. We could plan and talk without worry of being overheard.
“How’d you find this place?” I hold my hand up to stop her from getting out so I’m able to walk around and help her out of the SUV.
“You confuse me,” she whispers as soon as I open her door.
“Why?”
“Because you are including me in things you shouldn’t, and yet you’re so damn nice to me.”
I stare at her, debating my next words. “No one should go through what you have. No one should feel like getting revenge is their only option. I just want to help in my own fucked-up way.” It’s as much as I can tell her without spilling all my secrets.
Her eyes shift between mine. The pull that drew me to her the first night I saw her on stage is back with a vengeance. My body inches forward as my hands hold onto the door frame. Waiting her out is torture, but I’m not making the first move here. There’s too much at stake.
She leans forward, sucking in a deep breath before pressing her lips to mine.
It’s a tentative kiss, a hesitant one, but dammit if it doesn’t get me fired up.
When she leans back, there’s uncertainty in her eyes that crushes me.
If she asked me to jump right now, I would, but she’s not on the same page, and that’s probably for the best.
Stepping back, I clear my throat. “How’d you find this place?”
She hops down from the SUV and walks to a larger tree. “I come here when I need to get away. It’s quiet and far away from … everything.”
“It’s perfect. I might have to steal it.”
“I’m thinking of a faux rock thing.” She changes the subject.
“What does that entail?”
“Basically, a hollow rock with slightly more obvious colors, so we know for sure which one it is. Thing paper maché.”
“Hollow?” I ask, intrigued. “I could put a small camera in it.” I mumble, but Nova hears me.
“You’re really going to tempt fates with a camera? Doesn’t that defeat the whole concept of only trusting a couple of people? And do you really think Cano would go for it?”
“No, but I’m hoping I can convince him.”
“Awfully ballsy of you.”
“I mean, it could get me killed, but I think he’ll go for the fact that I’m trying to prevent anyone running off with the valuable product.
” I shrug. I make her think this, but in reality, it’s so my team can start flagging more people on this side of Oscar’s business.
The camera will be so small, so no one would ever see it.
“Okay, let’s get this set up and made so we can get this show on the road. Sorry you have to drive back to my apartment this late.”
“I’m not.” I walk over to her, hooking my hand in hers. “It’s not too late to step away. I can place this and tell Oscar you chose not to continue and that you didn’t know much. You can move on like nothing happened.”
“I’m going to tell you this one last time: I’m in this. I want to be in this, and you aren’t going to save me.”
I squeeze her hand because I hope like hell that I actually do.