Dirty, Dark, & Dangerous: A Contemporary Romance Boxset

by Luciani, Kristen

“I take it you recognize her.” Nate looks from me to Ollie. “Care to share the reason why we’re looking at this laptop screen?”

  “That’s Jeff’s ex-wife, Kate.” I run a hand through my hair and lean back against the sticky wooden chair, not really caring right now that it is, indeed, a very fucking sticky chair; my life has just become a hell of a lot stickier. “Since we’re all being honest here, I recently found out that Jeff Torres is my sister’s future father-in-law. I just met Kate. She’ll be at the wedding tomorrow.” I tap my fingernails against the tabletop. “What is she doing on this surveillance feed, Ollie?”

  “The audio is spotty, but she’s been identified on this feed multiple times in the past few weeks. I didn’t know who she was, so I did some cross-checking. And today, I got the full conversation between her and Conlon. Everything came through, clear as day. Kate showed up minutes after you left his house, Ari. And Conlon mentioned something about a meeting with you on Monday, but that it’s a setup, that they need to get rid of you as soon as this money transfer is done so they can cash out and get the fuck out of dodge.”

  “Jesus…” I whisper.

  “That’s not all. They’re planning to take out Jeff as well, since five years evidently wasn’t enough of a sentence.” He pauses to adjust his glasses and clear his throat. “But that’s not all. Kate was the one who blew the whistle on Jeff, the one who got him indicted. She’s been working with Conlon from way back when Jeff was at the Bureau.”

  “But…how? How the hell didn’t he know? Or suspect anything? I just…” My voice trails off. I can’t even formulate words to describe the disgust I feel for Kate right now.

  Nate slams his hand on the table. “Fuck! We need to have agents at that wedding, Ari. I can’t take the risk that they won’t pull some stunt before Monday, especially since all three of you will be in the same place. As of now, you and Jeff Torres both have targets on your backs, and we need to be prepared for anything.”

  “Nate, I am perfectly capable of handling myself. You can’t have undercover agents crawling around my sister’s wedding, for chrissakes!”

  “You’re not calling the shots here, Ariana. You’re too valuable to this team. Ollie’s intel changes everything.” Nate leans in closer. “We have one shot to stop this whole con from going down.”

  I nod. “We need to get Conlon talking.”

  “Exactly,” Nate agrees. “If we can get something on him, it’ll help move things along.”

  Ollie looks up with a smirk on his face after a few more rapid keystrokes. “I think I have a plan.”

  “Please make it be a good one,” I moan.

  “Oh, it is.” He points to the surveillance images tiled on his screen. “Check it out. Santana Hayes. Do you remember the actress who came to us after she fired her last publicist?”

  “Holy crap, yes! She was the one who’d hidden her age because of that soft core porn thing she did. When was that again?”

  “Two years ago.” Ollie cocks an eyebrow. “She was fifteen.”

  “Which makes her seventeen now.” I clap my hands. “Underage! Oh my God, we’ve got him!”

  Ollie cocks his head to the side. “Yep, and in a shitload of positions, too. I don’t think Conlon will want any of this leaked; although, he might want them for his own viewing enjoyment, especially if we threaten to send him up the river. He’ll need some entertainment to get him through that sentence. Sick bastard.”

  “Thank fuck.” Nate smacks his hand on the table. “I’ll have agents over there within an hour. We’ll hang this over his head, get him to sing like a fucking canary, and move in on Kate.”

  “Wait, you need to do it after the wedding. You’ll have agents there, and they’ll keep an eye on things. Please don’t do it yet. Don’t ruin the day for my sister and Kate’s son. The poor guy has already seen one of his parents hauled off to prison. Don’t make him relive that in front of all of their guests. It’s bad enough Kate is the reason why Jeff was sent to prison in the first place. That’s going to kill him.”

  Nate lets out a deep sigh. “Even if I agree to wait, we also need to know when and where Jeff Torres is planning to strike so we can stop him.”

  I swallow hard. “I’m supposed to meet him today, but I don’t know how I can gather that kind of information. You’ve been tracking him, why can’t you figure it out?”

  Nate sits back against the chair. “I’m not saying it’ll be easy, but this needs to play out. If Torres interferes with the money transfer before we can get Conlon to talk, we lose our shot to blow open this case. I need you to find out exactly what Torres has planned or we risk losing our shot at Conlon. Again.”

  “He’s not going to tell me anything!” I slam my hands on the table. Jeff is a fucking ex-con? Fired from the Bureau? Jesus, I knew he was full of shit, but I had no idea just how deep I waded into it.

  “This is the assignment, Ari. Plans change, and if you want to rise through the ranks, you’d better learn how to deal with it. I know you’re used to running your own ops your way, but this time, you need to adjust your strategy. That is, if you want the promotion you’ve been working toward.” Nate cocks an eyebrow. “Are you with me on this? Or should I look for another agent to support for Director of the Southern District?”

  I grit my teeth. He’s got my ass pinned to the wall. There’s no way out of this mess. If I want that promotion, I need to do what he asks. No questions, no arguments.

  And a no-win situation.

  “No, I’ll do it.” A pang assaults my chest. “What’s going to happen to Torres if he gets caught before we can stop him?”

  “He’ll have a one-way ticket back to prison on charges of conspiracy to commit fraud. But we need to stop that from happening, so get to work. Deliver on your part, Ari, and I’ll make sure you get that promotion. Everyone wins.”

  Yeah, but will the prize be worth all of the lies?

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  JEFF

  My iPhone vibrates in my pocket as I drive toward Santa Monica after leaving Damon. I ignore it. I know exactly what the call is about.

  For the first time in as long as I can remember, this quest is no longer the first thing that springs to my mind. Revenge, rage, vindication…all of it is in the backseat right now. I lean against my car, knowing there is a laundry list of items waiting to be checked off - things I am responsible for delivering, and expectations people have of me.

  But at this moment, I don’t care.

  What do I care about?

  A normal life, one I’ve unconsciously avoided for too long because I could never get out of my own way. I had Kate, but I couldn’t make that work. I have Damon, and I’m damn close to fucking that up and losing him, too.

  And then there’s Ariana, who ignites a flame inside of me that makes me want to be better, try harder, and forget the past.

  Yes, I want to lay it to rest. Finally. Maybe this whole plan was supposed to be a wake-up call for me. Never being able to make all the moving parts work together. Maybe I’m supposed to let it all go and finally move on with my life. I let out a deep breath, pushing out all of the toxic emotions that have been plaguing me.

  It feels good. It feels right.

  I’m an ex-criminal, but I can be redeemed. I don’t need to crush this guy to feel whole again.

  I already am whole. The pieces are scattered all around me. I just need to put them together.

  I can do that myself.

  If I ignore them, like I’ve been doing for the better part of my life, I’ll get the revenge I’ve been seeking. But those pieces will disintegrate before my eyes. I’ll have accomplished what I wanted, but will be left with nothing.

  That’s not my aim. That’s not why I came back.

  Deep down, I know I can’t make up for everything I’ve lost. But I have the chance to make things right in a different way.

  I didn’t think I’d wake up this morning with an altered perception of my reality.

  Everything I�
��ve been chasing will give me nothing I’ve been missing.

  It’s all right in front of me. And I don’t need an elaborate plan to capture it. All I need to do is embrace it.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  ARIANA

  I pull up to the Casa Del Mar late in the afternoon. Adrenaline rushes through me when I think of the few salacious minutes Jeff and I shared in my office this morning. God, I need more. So much more.

  I pick up my phone from the center console. Eva has sent about fifty texts in the past hour about her dress. I should have been there for her instead of plotting my big promotion at work and planning to demolish the livelihood of her future father-in-law.

  Congratulations, Eva and Damon. I’m so very happy for you. I’m sure the first days of marriage will be hard enough without you having to deal with the incarceration of a dear family member. Or two.

  Jesus Christ.

  And I somehow need to figure out Jeff’s elaborate plan to take down Conlon, so I can beat him to it before I have to arrest him instead.

  I drop my keys in the valet’s outstretched hand and shoot off a comforting text to Eva, hoping to pull her off the ledge. I’ll grab the favors out of my trunk later. Much later.

  I smooth the front of my shirt and grab my handbag from the front seat. The butterflies in my belly are swarming, but it’s more than just nerves.

  It’s proof that I can never allow myself to be normal. My life is a jumble of elaborate lies, and I keep it intact by shutting everyone out. Shades of the truth color my existence, and it’s a damn lonely one. I keep thinking that when I hit the next milestone, things will get better. I’ll feel more empowered, more settled, more successful. I’ll finally be on the path to accomplishing my goals.

  And leading this double life will finally be worth all that I’ve given up in the process.

  But now that I’m so close, I falter.

  Now, of all times, my heart is needling me to take a step back and breathe.

  I look up at the hotel. The last time I was here…oh my God. Much as I hate to admit it, being with Jeff was a wake up call; a reminder of everything I’d let myself miss for so long, even I can’t remember. So wrong, but more right. So perfect, yet such utter chaos.

  I want that. I need that.

  Having parents like I do is a convenient excuse for not getting my heart involved in big girl games, but denying myself something I want when the pull is this powerful just plain sucks. And what’s worse is I have to say goodbye. Not for the time being, but forever. Once he finds out that I am the one who’s about to put him in the middle of a firestorm…no, I can’t even think about that right now. I rush inside and press the Up button. Room six-oh-eight. Those numbers are burned into my memory, along with every other delicious detail from that night. The doors open and my body twitches, ready to leap inside. I stand back, waiting for the passengers to step into the lobby. I tap my toe against the glossy floor tiles, rolling my eyes heavenward. Jesus, it’s like a cattle car.

  “Ari!” A high-pitched nasally voice makes me gasp. Bobbie. And Dad. Fucking A, you can’t make this shit up.

  “Sweetie, what are you doing here so early?” My father furrows his brow leans in for a quick kiss.

  “Oh, I’m just checking out the bridal suite to make sure everything is in order. Eva will be here in a few hours and I wanted to surprise her.” I smile. The lies just roll off my tongue without thought. Occupational hazard.

  “Why don’t you join us for a late lunch? We’re headed to the restaurant.”

  “Your father thought it would be nice to get away for the night to decompress before the big day.” Bobbie squeezes his shoulder. “You know, before the craziness of the weekend begins.”

  Seriously? They live in Bel Air, for chrissakes. They really need a night away? From what? Paradise?

  “Nice,” I manage. “But, um, I have an appointment I need to get to right after I do my suite check.”

  Bobbie opens her handbag and fumbles around for something. A credit card shaped piece of plastic falls onto the floor and I stoop to grab it. No, no, no…

  Room six-oh-seven.

  You have got to be fucking kidding me.

  My father slings an arm around my shoulders. “Come on, kitten. At least have a cocktail before you take off.”

  “Okay, Daddy. Sounds good.” Actually, I can do with about ten of them, especially considering what Eva’s future father-in-law is going to do to me right against your bedroom wall, Dad.

  Please let their bed be on the opposite side of the room.

  The last thing I need is to hear the two of them moaning.

  We walk into the bar and take seats at a high-top table. A pretty brunette waitress with cherry red lips and a low-cut top saunters over to take our order. “Will you be dining with us today?”

  “Yes, but after we have a drink here at the bar.” My dad flashes her a toothy grin, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Bobbie stiffen. It’s been a long time, but I’ve never really warmed up to her. She’s a homewrecker, for chrissakes. And I’m enjoying the fact that she’s not on stable ground, either. That’s right, sweetheart, shit happens when you least expect it. So don’t get too comfortable just because you’ve got new tits. He’ll plop down that titanium card for another hot piece just as fast.

  It’s catty, I know. But it still stings, after all this time. Dad chose Bobbie. He left all of us. I’m still pissed off at both of them, and a cocktail isn’t about to mend the rough edges of my frayed emotions.

  Still, I’m going to need the booze for later.

  “Whiskey neat for me, please.” I grin at the waitress, silently thanking her for the cleavage she keeps flashing at my dad.

  “How’s business, Ari? Ever planning to use that law degree?”

  I take a deep breath. “Yes, Daddy. I use it every day when I review contracts.”

  He snorts. “Come on, that’s not what I meant. When are you going to realize that babysitting actors isn’t a respectable career?”

  I tap my fingertips on the marble tabletop until the highball glass is placed in front of me. “I have my own company, which I built from nothing. That isn’t impressive to you, Dad?”

  “Not as impressive as saying I have a daughter who’s a judge on the Supreme Court.”

  “There weren’t any job openings for that gig last time I checked, so I went with Plan B.” The amber colored liquid burns a path down my throat, drowning out the snarky retorts piling in my throat and damn near choking me.

  “You have to work your way up to the big time, Ari. I think this is probably the one thing your mother and I agree on. You always had an issue with commitment.”

  I slam the glass on the table, whiskey sloshing over the side of the glass. “Did you ever think that my issue is related to the fact that I never had a good role model to demonstrate what commitment actually meant? That permanence kind of escaped me since it was so blatantly disregarded? In short, Dad, did you consider your own actions may have had a teeny tiny impact on my future ones?”

  My father’s eyes narrow and Bobbie’s mouth falls open. This isn’t good. Shit, I didn’t need this to happen right now, not when the wedding is a day away. I’m paid to do damage control for my clients, and I really hate when I need to do it for myself. But this has been building for too long. Spewing my true feelings now isn’t ideal, but he’ll have a few more drinks and get laid. That’ll mellow him out. Hopefully.

  I grab my glass and guzzle the rest of the double shot. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m just really preoccupied lately. I didn’t want to get into all of this with you. Please just respect what I do, Dad. I know you don’t agree with my choices, but hell, there’s more than enough of that to go around.” I slide off of the bar stool and sling my handbag over my shoulder. “Thanks for the drink. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  The stress of this secret job is making me crazy. Maintaining a business and trying to take down mastermind criminals makes for a very uptight Ariana. And th
e one thing that can help me unwind is waiting for me upstairs.

  I stalk out of the bar, weaving through groups of business people standing around in the lobby and head toward the elevator bank. I jump into the elevator as soon as the doors open, my pulse throbbing in my throat. Just a few more minutes until I see him again, mere seconds before his body is pressed against me, taking me to dangerous places where I’d love to get stranded forever. Of course, I’d prefer it if I wasn’t such a liar, pulling the wool of the eyes of everyone I know, and was actually capable of having a normal relationship.

  But none of that has kept my emotions in check. Not with Jeff. Much as I’ve tried to keep them locked up, he’s blown open the vault, exposing my vulnerabilities, making me feel things I shouldn’t, for so many reasons. And, as I stand outside of his hotel room door, I realize I need this. I need to feel wanted and desired, yes. But it’s Jeff that has this incredible hold on me. He’s the one that makes me want to break rules and jeopardize things that, in the past, have been most important to me. He’s the one who’s opened me up to the possibility of more, something I’d been very flippant about before we met.

  But the lies…there are so many lies. I know so much, too much, that can cripple him. His plans against Conlon, his associates; everything is out there. I can’t save him from what he’ll soon find out.

  And while I hate him for being involved with this mess, and destroying any possibility of a future for us, I’m also falling for him. Hard. I have no idea how to lessen the impact of my deceit when everything comes out. What I do know is, regardless of what my heart tells me, this can’t go any further. Tonight can never happen again because I have a job to do.

  I knock on the door, and seconds later, he pulls it open, standing the doorway in dark, low-rise jeans and an un-tucked button down shirt. His dark hair is mussed, like he’s been running his hand through it. It falls over his eyes, giving him a sexy, bedhead look, and those half-hooded eyes pierce my soul, oh my God.