Chapter One
Erin
I lean back in my outrageously expensive gaming chair with a long sigh and look at the ceiling. Another human trafficking ring is going down soon. All their IP logs, client names, details, crypto wallets and bank accounts, everything has been anonymously leaked to the FBI.
But first I paid myself, funneling a tiny amount of cryptocurrency to one of my shell wallets.
Is it legal? Nope. Necessary? Absolutely.
A girl’s gotta eat. I’ve also anonymously donated a major amount to recovery and support groups.
It is only fair that the bad guys pay to repair the harm they cause.
I turn my focus back to my computer screens where lines of codes are blinking.
Time to clean up.
I get back to work, meticulously erasing my tracks until everything is squeaky clean. I never take chances. Because one misstep and my life could be over.
Shutting down another ring usually gives me satisfaction and I normally celebrate with a late night out drinking, dancing and flirting. But tonight I only feel exhausted. What good does it do? I bring one down, and two others take its place. It’s never-ending.
My mind goes back to the organization I still haven’t been able to bring down.
Manticore. They do flesh trade, the worst kind.
A few months back I thought I got them when Lily was abducted by Damiano’s rival Gian Mancini.
I thought the Mancinis were behind Manticore, and that by killing Gian, Damiano had cut off the head of the beast. But I was mistaken, Manticore still exists and has built itself up again after Gian’s death.
The network reaches further than I’d first suspected and it frustrates me that I haven’t been able to take it down.
I pause and look at my screens. Should I try again tonight?
It would be unwise, since I’m moving to Boston tomorrow and still need to secure everything here until I come back in a few months.
After weighing the pros and cons, I reject the idea.
Too reckless. I resolutely unplug every device, discard the used burner phones, and stash my two laptops in my luggage.
Then I call Lily to update her on my arrival.
“Hey, Lily! I wanted to let you know I’m on schedule and will be arriving tomorrow early afternoon.”
“Hey, Erin.” Her excited voice makes me smile. “You’re the best, I can’t wait to have you here!”
“Where should I go? Is there a hotel near your clinic?”
“Nonsense, I found you somewhere nice. But you know you’re welcome to stay with us in our house, of course.”
“Uh, and watch you and your husband make out in the kitchen? Ew, gross! Hard pass, thank you very much.”
“What?” I can picture her turning beet red at the other end. “We would never do such a thing, and—”
“Relax, I’m teasing.” I grin. I’ve always enjoyed flustering her, and she makes it so easy. “But you know, I need my own place.”
“Oh, right.” Her disappointment is palpable. She knows about my…side hustle. She had been supportive when we were roommates at vet school, when I wanted to do something useful with my skill. She would never expose me, and I can trust her with my life.
“We’ll be seeing each other of course, don’t worry about that. You’ll be so sick of me, you’ll send me packing after a month.” I try to lighten the mood.
She scoffs. “Doubtful, but okay, I get your point. I’ll send you the address and meet you there.”
“Will do, I can’t wait to squeeze you and your little tummy!” We hang up and I return to packing. What should a girl pack for an adventure in a big city? Everything, of course!
So that’s what I do—I pack as many clothes and shoes as I can fit into my two big suitcases.
After all, I don’t know how long I am staying, and what occasions might occur.
Best be prepared has always been my motto.
But even though my methodic packing keeps me in a meditative state, I can’t help thinking about the one thing I shouldn’t be thinking about.
Him…Matteo. Over six feet of broad-shouldered yumminess wrapped in a bad boy packaging.
My absolute Kryptonite. And our chemistry?
It is mind-blowing. It’s a shame, though, that our one night together would never have a repeat.
But well, maybe it was for the best, I tell myself.
After all, he is working for Damiano Santaluccia, the Boston Mafia boss.
Of course he’s not the kind of man you want to bring home to introduce to your family.
Not that I have any family to introduce anyone to, for that matter.
I’m an orphan—my file mentions a deceased mother, an unknown father, and no known family.
I have been raised in foster families all my life. So yeah, no bringing anyone home.
I sigh. It is very likely that our paths will cross.
Since he seems to hold Damiano’s trust, he must be high up in their hierarchy, but I have no idea what or who exactly he is.
I don’t even know his last name. As much as I am curious about him, I have never tried to pry into him, deciding that I’d rather put him in my rearview.
I haven’t planned on seeing any of them on a regular basis.
Since I am on the other side , so to speak, I have a conflict of interest with Lily being a Mafia queen now.
But luckily for my conscience, the Santaluccia organization is not dealing with human traffic.
On the contrary, they apparently are not fond of it either.
So as long as it stays that way, I have no beef with them.
Well, I might not, but they might have one with me if they find out about my side activities.
Dread creeps up my spine, cold and crippling.
I need to be extra careful and play my part convincingly. My life depends on it.
As for Matteo? I will avoid him as much as possible for various obvious reasons. For one, he is a danger for my panties, and I constantly seem to lose a few brain cells in his vicinity. Well okay, maybe a lot of brain cells, judging from my flirty and reckless behavior at Lily’s wedding. Ugh!
But that’s not the main reason. The second and vital reason is that I cannot let him in at any cost. If he discovers who and what I am, what I do, I am not sure how he would react.
Handing me over to their organization would be the kindest thing he could do.
Judging from the cold glint always present in his dark eyes, he wouldn’t hesitate to remove me himself, and he wouldn’t even lose his appetite over it.
I know I’m stepping right into a potential mess and I have to tread carefully.
What I need is a list to clear my head, with a few ground rules that will hopefully keep me out of trouble.
One, no getting close to anyone tied to the Santaluccia organization, except Lily and her sister Chiara, of course.
Two, dazzle them with my glitter until they are blind.
Three, no Matteo.
Four, keep a low profile.
Five, if I do see him, be cool as a cucumber.
Easy-peasy. I can do this.