Chapter 13
Adam
The trip up to the penthouse is like it usually is except I’m thinking about Nova too much. I need to be focused, watch out in case things go south, but here I am, thinking about how fucking good she tasted when we kissed. What she looked like up on stage tonight.
“Ah, Chris, finally.” Oscar opens his arms wide like he’s welcoming, but we both know the score.
It has me on edge. That damn scar on my back tingles, making my hackles rise.
“Here you go,” I say instead of addressing his statement. I outstretch the package and hand it to him. The light weight of it is at odds with its size.
He heads to his office but looks back at me to ensure I’m following him. Guess this is one I get to see.
As he unwraps it, he looks up at me. “You’ll understand why I didn’t want this one checked outside of my home shortly.”
Once the wrapping is off, he carefully removes the top of the case holding the object. Then he lifts the sword with his bare hands, making me cringe. But once I get the full vision of it, the air shoots out of my lungs.
“The Honjo Masamune,” I whisper.
“Very good, Mr. Roth. You’ve been doing your research,” Oscar muses.
“I thought that was lost after World War II.” My head is exploding with the knowledge that this sword wasn’t destroyed in the way history assumed.
Masamune was a medieval Japanese blacksmith, widely acclaimed as Japan’s greatest swordsmith.
It represented the Tokugawa Shogunate during most of the Edo period and was passed down from one Shogun to another.
It is one of the best known of the swords created by Masamune and is believed to be among the finest Japanese swords ever made.
Japan has been looking for it since the war.
“Ah, it was taken by a general, actually. Hidden for generations before someone in the very extended family needed … funds, if you will.”
“Wow. Incredible piece of history,” I murmur before I remember myself. “Must have cost a large fortune.”
“Ah, you see, it’s nothing compared to buyers in Japan who want a lost piece of the history,” Oscar says as if it’s a cell phone being bought.
“You already have a buyer?” I continue to stare at the sword, partially because I’m in awe, but also because Oscar can’t see anything in my eyes that gives my real motives away.
“I do. There’s a shipment being sent out in six days, and this will be included.”
“Anything I need to do for that?” My eyes finally meet his.
“There will be more coming in tomorrow. I’ll need you to pick up deliveries before another one comes in. I have a schedule for you, but you’ll need to memorize it. Check them while you are there and then bring them here after the last is delivered. Do not look at the last one.”
“Alright.” My mind is spinning because I know that Nova will want to be included, but this could be my big break.
“Do well tomorrow, and you’ll have control over the rest of the process.
This is a lot of responsibility, and I’m not giving it to you without a thorough vetting process.
Cross me, and you’ll end up in the river.
” His threat is in the same tone as the rest of his speech. It’s almost more intimidating that way.
“Understood.”
I turn to leave, but the next words stop me in my tracks. “Oh, and Mr. Roth, if I get even a hint that Nova isn’t keeping information to herself, you’ll never see her again.”
I heave in a deep breath before continuing to walk away.
Shit, shit, shit. He knows about Nova.
If I had any real way to protect her, it was keeping her in the shadows. That’s out the window now, though.
I walk to the car at a clipped pace.
I find Nova at the playground as we’re talking on the phone. As our conversation develops, I get more and more hooked on her.
I’m definitely in trouble with Nova.
All I want to do is say “fuck it” and take her back to my place. Where we go from there is up to her, but I wouldn’t mind seeing what that smart ass mouth does in the bedroom.
Jesus, you perv. Chill the fuck out.
I should have never agreed to let her come, even if she did have a valid point that she could identify men easier than I could. She knew the guy who dropped off in alarming detail. That helps the Marshals’ case tremendously.
But fuck, now I have to ensure she stays safe while she’s on this vendetta against Oscar. Right when things are heating up too.
I’ll do anything to make sure she stays safe, though. I know what Oscar is capable of, and I won’t let her fall into his clutches even more than she already is.
The way she played me like a fiddle to come pick up the newest artifact is alarming, though. I’ve never been gullible or budged, especially when the safety of an innocent was involved. Yet she managed to worm her way into this endeavor like it was sneaking into a movie as a teenager.
So not only is she smart, endearing, and sexy as fuck, but she’s also crafty. I’ll have to keep an extra eye on her because I sure as hell don’t think she’s keeping her promise to stay in my car for the next drop-off.
We order all the makings of a classic breakfast and split it all as we eat our weight in food. Guess we both got too caught up in our mission. I’ll have to make sure she eats in between her busy schedule at Bella’s and inserting herself within my investigation.
Woodcroft is going to kill me when he hears about her involvement. I’ve never brought anyone close while undercover because it’s just stupid. And dangerous.
Maybe this is another sign that I need to retire from undercover work. I’m getting lax in my judgement apparently. I’m sure Juliette, or anyone else on our team, will be reading me the riot act as soon as I can wrap this all up.
The bill gets dropped off while I’m lost in my head. I pull out a fifty-dollar bill and throw it on top before glancing at Nova. “Ready?”
“You didn’t even look at the bill.”
“Don’t need to. Ballparked the price and know that a fifty covers it, plus a good tip.” I shrug, not sure why she’s hung up on this.
“You’re very trusting.”
“Only when I’ve already vetted the place. It’s why I come here often.” That’s the truth. They aren’t connected to Oscar at all, so there’s not a huge chance of someone taking something out of context and reporting back to the boss.
“That’s an interesting way to say you’re paranoid.”
“Takes one to know one. You ready?” I stand up.
“Yep.” She smirks.
Nova follows me out the door to my car. “It’s not being paranoid if there is a very real reason to be. You know better than anyone how much outreach that man has.”
“I just always assumed I was the only paranoid one. I triple-check everything. Every move I make, every lock, and all the things in my locker and apartment.”
I spin around. “Has someone broken into your locker or home?”
“No, but there’s always a chance, right?”
Her words gut me. She shouldn’t be in the position. But good people end up in shit positions all the time. I know that; she knows that. It’s just a shitty fact of life.
I get her settled in my SUV before heading to our hidden rock.
The sun’s rays start to shine over the city. It would almost be idyllic if we weren’t waist deep into stolen artifacts and a mob boss. Those thoughts of retiring from undercover work are more prevalent in my head than ever before.
What would it be like to wake up and see the sun rise on a brand-new day as Adam Morrison? With no upcoming job or new persona I have to be? What would it be like to wake up to someone like Nova every day? To have the comfort of a good woman by my side?
Not someone like Nova.
Nova. She’s making it damn hard to separate my undercover self from my real self recently, and I fear that it will only get harder as time goes on. My only hope at saving face is if this fucking case finally finishes.
But would that mean losing Nova completely?
I scoff to myself. I don’t have Nova. I can’t kid myself into thinking anything otherwise.
“You okay?” Her voice pulls me out of my asinine thoughts.
“Sure. Just antsy about what Oscar said.” I check my rearview for the millionth time to ensure we aren’t being followed before turning into the park.
“I feel like I’m in a movie. The music is building, and we’re about to get caught up in some shit.”
I can’t help it; I burst out laughing. “That’s some wild imagination you have there.”
She looks over at me with a smirk. “Never been told that one before.”
“Are you hearing an actual song?” The need to egg her on is strong.
“All I can think about is The Incredibles, when Dash is making his own superhero music.”
“Oh my God. Seriously?” I’m trying desperately to hold my laughter back, but the tears leaking from my eyes are a dead giveaway.
“Don’t make fun of me.” She slaps my chest with a giggle. It’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.
“I’m not. I’d just really love to take a peek into your brain sometime.” The laughing finally calms down as I smile over at her. Her cheeks are flushed the most gorgeous shade of pink.
“It’s a damn mess. I can barely navigate it.” Her grumbled words don’t distract form the meaning.
“Everyone is going through something, Nova. You aren’t alone in that.”
She opens her mouth to counter what I’ve said, I’m sure, but I’m pulling into the parking area by her apartment.
“Nova, I need to tell you that Oscar knows just how involved you are. He was watching or had someone watching.” I close my eyes and wish it wasn’t fact, but she also needs to know.
“Okay … Okay,” she mutters.
Then it’s silence until—
“Come up.”
“What?”
“Come up to my place. Tonight. Or today, I suppose.” She looks out at the sunrise.
“Nova …”
“Can we just have a couple of hours where we don’t have to think about any of this? Where we aren’t in danger or doing stupid illegal shit?”
Right this second, I realize I’ll do pretty much anything this woman asks of me. Whether it’s to save her or because I’m wildly attracted to everything she is doesn’t really matter at the end of the day.
“Let’s go,” I say.