Deep Cover

by Kimberly Van Meter

  Moreover, playing up a flirtation with Poppy could work in their favor. Angelo seemed to enjoy certain privileges with the strippers. He would follow Angelo’s playbook.

  He knew Poppy would do whatever it took to solidify her cover, even if it meant pretending that they were attracted to each other.

  Was it an act?

  Yeah, that was sort of the problem.

  It wasn’t an act. At least not on his part.

  Poppy was still in his blood and his dreams.

  Perhaps now wasn’t the time to admit that when he fantasized, Poppy was the one stroking him, getting him off, not some porn star or supermodel.

  That was his own shameful secret. One that he couldn’t quite shake loose.

  What could he say? Sex with Poppy had always been pretty hot. Why wouldn’t he fantasize about hot sex?

  Will you friggin’ focus, already? Get your head out of the damn gutter.

  Shaine wiped the bead of sweat dotting his hairline and forced a chuckle at his own ridiculous detour.

  Detours like that could get a man killed.

  Rookie mistake.

  It’d only been a few days since becoming embedded in the scene, but he was already catching the ebb and flow of the clientele through Lit.

  Upscale, trendy and flashy, the clientele were millennials with plenty of cash, no sense of how precious life was and a general belief that they would live forever.

  A perfect breeding ground for a drug dealer to peddle something dangerous such as Bliss.

  And tonight he’d get a chance to see firsthand how the drug was being moved around.

  * * *

  Marcus, Victoria, Shaine and Poppy met at Poppy’s apartment to debrief before heading out to the party.

  “You’re both equipped with state-of-the-art wires disguised as a necklace for Poppy and the earring for Shaine. These are undetectable and used by the CIA for clandestine operations, so they are the best money can buy,” Victoria said, handing the necklace to Poppy so she could put it on.

  “It’s pretty, too,” Poppy said as Marcus clasped it. “Added bonus.”

  “Only the best for this operation,” Victoria said with a wry twist of her lips. “See what happens when a senator’s daughter gets caught in the cross fire? The stranglehold on the budget suddenly loosens.”

  “True,” Shaine agreed, and then he returned to business. “All right, so we’re going to focus on the Bliss trail, find out who’s distributing it and then follow the chain. Sooner or later, someone is going to slip up and we’re going to be able to find out who El Escorpion is.”

  “Don’t be overconfident,” Poppy warned. “I’ve been doing my own snooping around and whoever this person is has layers of protection, which means they are serious about hiding their identity.”

  “Of course, but human nature is generally predictable. Someone is going to slip.”

  “They haven’t yet.”

  She knew Shaine was being Shaine—confident, cocky, self-assured—but this case was bigger than either had ever worked, and Poppy didn’t think those “Shaine” qualities were going to be helpful this time.

  “All right, you two, settle down,” Victoria said, flashing Shaine an irritated look, which could’ve been referencing either of them. But she left it a mystery by continuing, “Marcus and I will be monitoring the situation via our coms. If anything goes sidewise, we’ll send in the cops to break it up.”

  “That’s not going to work,” Poppy said. “If the cops show up, they’re going to know someone is planted on the inside.” She shook her head, adamant. “No, we are going to have to be on our own for this one. We can’t blow this opportunity to see how this operation works.”

  Shaine agreed, saying, “Poppy is right. We’ll be fine. This is just a fact-seeking operation. There’s no need to get twitchy.”

  Victoria and Marcus seemed to share a private concern. Poppy frowned. “What was that look?”

  Marcus took point. “Look, we’re a little worried that you two were invited too quickly to this ultrasecret party. Something doesn’t feel right. I think you ought to sit this one out, make some excuse to see how they react.”

  “And if we never get another invite?” Shaine returned, echoing Poppy’s fear.

  “It could be a trap,” Victoria said, shaking her head. “Think about it. You’ve been on the scene for three days and suddenly you’ve been invited to this inner circle party? Doesn’t that smell like something rotten?”

  Shaine tightened his lips as if unwilling to admit that maybe they were right but couldn’t ignore what everyone was saying.

  But Poppy didn’t want to back down. This could be their only chance. “What are you doing? We’re supposed to be elite agents and you’re all acting like rookies.”

  “They have a point,” Shaine said, freshly irritating Poppy. “Let’s take a step back and see what happens.”

  “I can’t believe this. A minute ago, you were all cocked ready to go and now you’re backing down. What’s going on?” An ugly thought came to her. She narrowed her gaze at Shaine. “Is this about me? You think I can’t handle the heat? That’s bullshit, Kelly. Utter bullshit.”

  “I didn’t say that,” Shaine returned hotly, but Poppy wasn’t buying it now.

  Marcus and Victoria didn’t know about the history between Shaine and herself, and neither of them wanted to enlighten their partners, but damn, Shaine was making it difficult to handle things professionally.

  “Nobody is saying that,” Marcus said. “Stop wearing your feelings on your shirtsleeve and listen to reason. If you stop and think for just a minute, you’ll agree that it was too easy. It was a test and you’re about to blow it.”

  Poppy couldn’t believe this. Everyone was turning on her. Her chest tightened with the urge to scream, but she held it back. Instead, turning to Shaine she said stiffly, “I disagree with the consensus, but since you have more experience in the field, I’ll defer to your judgment.”

  God, the words felt like glass leaving her mouth, but at least she managed to get them out.

  Shaine held her gaze for a moment and a shock of awareness coursed through her—an electrical current that sizzled down her nerve endings and jolted awake a fitfully sleeping giant—and she had to break contact to preserve the illusion that they had no history.

  “Poppy is right,” Shaine finally said, shocking her. “We might not get another chance to get into the inner circle. We have to take the risk that it’s a trap and go for it.”

  Poppy blinked back the sudden wash of emotion and managed to jerk a short nod of gratitude, then turned to Victoria and Marcus who were shaking their heads, resigned to going through with it.

  “Fine,” Marcus said. “Good luck. Don’t get your ass killed trying to be a hero.”

  Victoria said to Shaine, “Same goes for you.”

  Poppy’s cell jangled to life. “It’s Capri. We’re riding together.”

  Shaine nodded. “Stay sharp. Capri may look young, but she’s got something going on with Angelo, which makes her a suspect.”

  Poppy accepted that advice, though she hated to think that Capri was bad. She knew that was dangerous thinking, but she had a soft spot for the kid and desperately wanted to put her on the right path when this was all said and done.

  Grabbing her purse, Poppy exited the apartment, leaving behind the team.

  Shaine would follow fifteen minutes later in his own car.

  Capri honked and waved from a sleek convertible Mercedes and Poppy cringed internally. The kid was in deep if she was buying sports cars for herself or, worse, allowing someone else to buy her expensive cars.

  “Hot ride,” Poppy said with appropriate envy, admiring the black leather interior. “Damn, girl, that’s a lot of lap dances.”

  Capri giggled as Poppy buckled up, saying, “Only if you’re giving the right people private shows.”

  Poppy swallowed her trepidation and smiled encouragingly. “You go, girl.”

  Time to put o
n the game face.

  CHAPTER 8

  It was difficult to listen to your gut when your heart was saying something different. He knew Poppy had something to prove.

  And if he were on his own, he would have ignored the warning in his gut saying that it could be a trap, because when he was on his own he only had to worry about himself.

  The fact that he hesitated meant that he was thinking of Poppy in ways that he shouldn’t, which was why he decided to go through with attending the party.

  If they were willing to back down at the slightest hint of danger, they had no business going undercover.

  That was what the logical side of his brain told him.

  But logic wasn’t running the show right now.

  He knew this because all he could think about was that Poppy was fifteen minutes ahead of him, possibly driving straight into a trap.

  How was he supposed to be okay with that?

  The part that was trying to create distance was quick to remind him that they were no longer dating, and it wasn’t his responsibility to care about her on a personal level. But the other part of him argued that he would care about any agent’s safety.

  Regardless of any prior history between them.

  It wasn’t as if he would willingly watch another agent walk into a trap.

  And this was why his head was all messed up.

  Was he concerned because she was a fellow agent or was he concerned because he and Poppy had shared time together?

  Okay, let’s be honest. It wasn’t just time—he’d loved her.

  Loved her with every ounce of his being. There was no one else he’d ever felt that way about and letting her go had been the hardest thing he’d ever done.

  Damn it, just focus on the case.

  The growing frustration made it hard to think straight.

  Maybe he should’ve backed out of this assignment. Maybe he was the one who should’ve known better.

  Maybe he was worried that if he had backed off, a less experienced agent would’ve taken his place, therefore putting Poppy in more danger.

  As much as he wanted to put the past where it belonged, their history remained between them, unresolved.

  No closure.

  And how could they have closure? She’d just split. One big fight and the next day she was gone.

  Personally, he thought that’d been pretty chickenshit. And he’d never had the opportunity to tell her exactly that.

  What was the point? It wasn’t as if she would come back.

  Besides, he’d been so angry and hurt, he probably would’ve made things worse.

  That was the thing about relationships ending, they were filled with crappy situations, where there was no winning, only losing.

  But most people didn’t end up having to work with their ex-partners.

  Victoria walked him to the door, apprehension in her expression. “Why are you going against your instincts? I’ve never known you to ignore your gut.”

  “This isn’t only my case. Agent Jones is an experienced agent in her own right. I was told to play nice, to listen to others. I’m trying to do that.”

  “There’s a time and a place. Don’t go getting yourself killed just to prove a point.”

  “I have no intentions of doing that,” he assured his partner. “Like I said, this is me playing nice.”

  “Yeah, well, screw that if the other agent is TSTL.”

  “Jones isn’t Too Stupid To Live.” Shaine laughed to cover his discomfort. He shouldn’t be the least bit tweaked over Victoria throwing shade on Poppy. If it were anyone else, he’d laugh and trade barbs.

  “Oh, c’mon. You and I both know she’s not cut out for this kind of work. Frankly, I’d worry that her dumb ass would end up getting me killed.”

  He had to stuff down the overwhelming urge to continue to defend Poppy and that meant he needed to split.

  “Stay sharp,” he said as he walked out the door, ending the conversation.

  “Stay smart,” Victoria called out, and he waved in the air to indicate he’d heard her.

  That’s all he had to say.

  His mouth was clearly at odds with his brain.

  Time to find out how the kids were partying these days.

  * * *

  Poppy tried not to grip the seat with clawed fingers, but Capri drove like a bat out of hell.

  “I love to drive fast,” Capri chirped as she took a turn nearly on two wheels. “Makes me feel alive.”

  “Yeah, well, I’d like to arrive alive, so can you slow down before I crap myself?” Poppy said, trying to sound only mildly alarmed instead of truly terrified. Kids suffered from an overblown belief in their own immortality, but Poppy had seen one too many dead kids on the morgue slab to drive the point home that humans were unbelievably fragile.

  “Sorry.” Capri giggled, easing up on the throttle. “I didn’t mean to freak you out.”

  “It’s okay. My mom always said I was an old woman in a young person’s body,” she lied. “My sense of adventure isn’t quite as wild as yours.”

  “That’s okay, I like you, anyway.”

  “Thanks, I like you, too,” Poppy said with an easy smile, but she was taking note of every turn they made. “So, nice ride. I’m so jealous.”

  “I just got it. I’m still getting used to it,” Capri shared. “I mean, it drives so different than my last car that I keep screeching tires now and then.”

  “Yeah? What was your last car?”

  “A Lexus.”

  Oh. She’d been hoping that Capri was going to say something sensible like a Honda or Toyota, like most kids her age.

  “Okay, I have to ask... How’d you afford a car like this? Dancing at the club doesn’t pay that good, does it?”

  “For the right people, it does,” Capri answered but didn’t elaborate. The kid was young and seemingly airheaded, but she knew enough to keep some cards close to her vest. That in and of itself sent a warning bell ringing in Poppy’s head.

  Please don’t be involved, Poppy thought to herself almost desperately. She didn’t want to be the one who had to put Capri away.

  “Let me guess...your regular?”

  “Bingo.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “I can’t tell you that, silly,” Capri admonished. “But I can tell you he’s very important.”

  “Politician?”

  Capri laughed. “Good try. I’m not saying nothing.”

  “Is it safe?”

  Capri sent Poppy a quizzical look. “You sure worry a lot.”

  “Sorry. Can’t help it. It’s in my DNA.”

  “Can I give you some advice?” Capri said, flipping the switch. Poppy nodded slowly, curious. “Stay away from Raquel. She’s a terrible person. If she even thinks you’re trying to move in on her territory, she’ll cut you faster than you can blink.”

  Poppy hid her revulsion with a smile.

  “Speaking from experience?”

  “Let’s just say that I know someone who crossed Raquel and came out the loser.”

  “Yeah? Who?”

  “It doesn’t matter now. Just trust me when I say she’s dangerous.”

  Capri’s normally sunny disposition dimmed as if she were recalling something painful, but she broke the moment with a bright smile. “Enough about sad things. Time to party!”

  Poppy knew she wasn’t going to get more out of Capri at that point because her head was already elsewhere.

  They headed into an industrial park that looked abandoned, but it could’ve just been the darkness that made everything look creepy, and the hairs on her neck began to prickle.

  Had Marcus and Victoria been right? Was this a trap and sweet Capri was a duplicitous killer?

  She snuck a glance at Capri as she sang loudly at the top of her lungs to some rap song, totally in her own world, and Poppy had a hard time believing that Capri was anything but a dumb kid playing an adult’s game.

  But that could just be wishful thinking, too. She c
ouldn’t afford to go soft on anyone. Not even the cute and bubbly Capri.

  “We’re here,” Capri announced, shutting off the car and climbing out. “C’mon, the party has already started. We’re not sleeping tonight!”

  Poppy had no choice but to follow after Capri as she bounded toward a looming building. The faint sound of music became louder as they got closer.

  Capri knocked on a solid metal door toward the back of the building and a large, criminal type opened up. The handlebar mustache was disturbing enough, but the freakish muscles roping his arms weren’t natural in the least.

  “Hi, Bear,” Capri said with a sunny smile. “We’re here to party!”

  “Who’s she?”

  “A friend,” Capri answered, lifting up on her toes to whisper something in the man’s ear. Judging by the way the man allowed them to pass, whatever Capri said must’ve been the magic words. Capri slipped her hand through Poppy’s and led her inside the cavernous building.

  “What was that all about?” Poppy asked. “What did you say to him?”

  “Don’t worry about it. Bear is a softy deep down. He just looks scary.”

  “That’s for sure,” Poppy murmured, glancing back at the hulking guard. “Does he eat small kids for breakfast?”

  “You’re funny.” Capri laughed, shaking her head as if Poppy said the weirdest things. “Okay, let’s find DJ Raven and get this party started.”

  Poppy followed Capri through the thick crowd of people wearing neon paint that glowed in the black light streaming in from the high ceilings as they danced to the throbbing music.

  Capri waved at the DJ, lost in his own world, one ear covered with the headphones while the other ear was free, his fingers working in time to the beat. “That’s Raven,” she said to Poppy with a happy squeal. “He’s so cool.”

  Although Capri identified him as male, DJ Raven could’ve been male or female. He had that androgynous look that was pretty and handsome at the same time. Plus, the name? Raven? Maybe his name should’ve been Peacock judging by the wild array of bright colors in his long hair.

  “Hi, Raven,” Capri said, waving again to catch his attention. Raven looked up and Poppy startled at the pale contact lens bleaching out the natural color of the irises. “This is my friend Laci. I want to show her a good time. Got anything that could help?”