Lies (Phoenix Undercover #1) (4 page)

Chapter 7

Josh

I know I had to look ridiculous as I followed her down First Avenue toward the serene Japanese restaurant we had decided on, but I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. My eagerness to get close to her once again was uncontrollable.

The taillights of her car lit up just ahead of me, indicating she was coming to a stop at a red light. As I waited, I watched her rearview mirror through her back window, hoping she’d look up, and when she did, I smiled. Fuck, I felt like a kid again, and it was amazing.

Tonight I would forget about the mission tomorrow. I wouldn’t think about the danger I would be placing myself in, possibly for months to come. Tonight I just wanted to let go of the responsibilities that lay heavy on my shoulders and feel.

Once we were both parked, I rushed to the side of her car and opened the door for her. Holding my hand out to help her stand, I took a chance and pulled her body against mine when she got out.

“Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me,” I said.

Her gorgeous blue eyes locked with mine, and her lashes fluttered. “Thank you for asking,” she whispered in return.

My gaze fell to her lips, and I debated kissing her but stepped back and held my hand out instead. I didn’t want to come across as desperate. There was no need to rush—not yet, at least.

***

“Real estate, I bet that can get interesting.”

“Yeah,” she replied. “
Interesting
is one word for it. There is also
exhausting
and
tedious
.” She lifted her wineglass to her lips and took a sip. My eyes locked on the movement. I gave up trying to hide my attraction to her the moment her lips encased her first bite of shioyaki and she closed her eyes, savoring the taste. Fuck, I had been hard ever since.

“Don’t get me wrong. There are times when I love what I do, like helping families find the perfect place to raise their children in the city, or that older couple looking to downsize because they just don’t need all that space any longer.” Her satisfied smile faded. “But then there are those times when I think, why in the hell do I do this? Like today, for example.” She leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table, and I knew instantly I was in for a story.

“I had this asshole that thought he was big shit. My first sign should have been his imitation Gucci shoes and cheap-ass suit, but I was too focused on holding my breath. He had to have put on the entire damn bottle of Giorgio Armani cologne. I thought I would have to fumigate once he left the office. The stench was testing my gag reflex.” She shivered and I laughed.

I had never met a woman that was this talkative. Yes, I know women love to talk, but Gabby didn’t filter her thoughts.

“Anyway,” she continued, waving her hand, “I must have shown him ten different places. Gorgeous, over-the-top amenities to the max, but he turned his nose up at each one.”

I sat quietly, watching her facial expressions and her hands as she waved them around while speaking. She was so beautiful.

“Finally, after four and a half hours with this clown, he found one he decided would do. Yeah, he actually said that. ‘It will do.’” She said the words in a snooty tone that I assumed was an imitation of the asshole she was talking about. It was seriously the cutest fucking attempt at an impression I had ever witnessed.

“We get back to my office and run all the numbers, we contact the seller with the offer, and then when it was accepted and ready to finalize…” She widened her eyes as if she was about to tell me the worst part. “He didn’t even have the money to support his offer. I swear he had to have known I was two seconds away from scratching out his eyeballs.”

This time I did chuckle. There was no chance in hell anyone could spend five minutes in Gabby’s presence and not feel lighter. And I could honestly say I had never felt the kind of attraction I felt toward her. I was already planning out the ways I could convince her to see me again. One time, one night, just wasn’t enough.

“So what about you? I mean, an FBI agent. That sounds intense. Do you interrogate and intimidate with just your eyes?” She narrowed her eyes as if she was zoning in on me as she wrinkled up her nose and pinched her lips together.

“What are you doing?” I asked, avoiding her question. I didn’t want to give her too much detail about the job I had in the bureau. The less she knew, the better. Plus, everything about my job was classified, and it would remain that way, no matter how hard keeping it secret was.

She smiled brightly and looked down at her plate. “Apparently, I don’t possess the skills of intimidation.” She shrugged before picking up a piece of sushi and popping it into her mouth.

“No, you don’t intimidate me, but you definitely intrigue me,” I stated as I watched her lips lift slightly. She slowed her chewing as she lifted her wineglass to wash it down.

“Ditto,” she whispered.

“Tomorrow night I have to work fairly late, and after that things are gonna be pretty busy. But I want to see you again.”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. She looked a little nervous, and my stomach tensed with the thought that maybe I had read her wrong. Maybe she wasn’t feeling what I was.

“Okay,” she replied as she lifted her head and locked her eyes onto mine. “I’d like that too.”

I instantly relaxed at her response.

Chapter 8

Gabby

My toes curled in my high heels, and I fisted my hand in the dress shirt that hung loosely on his waist, unable to control the moan that escaped me. Josh rolled his tongue against mine, and I sagged back further against my car as he pressed himself firmly against my front.

“Sunday,” he whispered against my lips. Before I could respond, he covered them once more. If he was trying to kiss me into submission, he was succeeding. “I know waiting to see you until then is going to drive me crazy, but I have no other option. Work has me booked for the next twenty-four to thirty-six hours. But tell me you’ll agree to Sunday.”

“You have my number, call me.” He smiled at my reply.

After a few more minutes of heavy kissing, Josh tucked me safely inside my car. He stood just to the side as I backed out, and when I looked in my rearview mirror, he still hadn’t moved. I liked to think it was because he too was completely shocked by our connection. It was intense and definitely unexpected.

When I arrived at my apartment and got into the elevator, I sagged back against the wall. The ding announcing I had arrived on the third floor startled me from my heated thoughts of Josh and his magical tongue. A shiver ran through me, and I couldn’t help but smile. I hadn’t felt this light and relaxed in a long time.

I unlocked the door and pushed it open, then jumped when I saw my sister hovering just inside the apartment near the door. “Oh my hell, what are you doing?”

Brook had her hands on her hips, and her eyes were narrowed. “What am I doing? How about what are you doing?” she fired back. “You were supposed to be here with a book and a bottle of wine. I’ve been home for over two hours waiting for you.”

I walked past her and placed my bag on the counter. “You said you were going out.”

“Well, apparently you aren’t the only one that decided going out wasn’t a good idea. So I came home to hang out, and you weren’t here. Plus, you turned off your phone, so I couldn’t call you. Where were you?”

When I didn’t give her any details, she glared at me. When I ignored her and walked toward my room, her heavy footsteps pounded on the hardwood floor as she rushed after me. “So, spill. I can see that smile you’re trying to hide. Obviously, something good happened, so you need to fill me in.”

“Just had dinner, no big deal.” I waved her off as I entered the bathroom and turned on the shower.

“Knock it off, Gabriella.” She thought using my full name would show me she was serious, but that shit only worked when my mother or father did it. When Brooklyn or even my other sister Audrey tried it, I could only laugh. “Damn it, will you stop being an ass? I know you didn’t go to dinner by yourself. And that smile you’re wearing tells me it wasn’t just some sandwich at Ruby’s Deli.” She blocked me from exiting the bathroom to get my towel and pajamas. “Stop playing, just tell me.”

“Oh my God, you are so annoying,” I groaned as I shoved her arm out of the way. I sat down on the end of my bed because I knew damn well she was not going to leave me alone unless I filled her in. “I ran into Josh.”

Her eyes grew wide as she spun in a circle and squealed. “Mr. Hot Lips from the club?” I nodded and she smiled brightly. “And?”

“You are ridiculous, do you know that?”

“Yep. Now go on.” She waved her hand at me.

“I was getting wine, and he was there too. He asked me to dinner and wouldn’t take no for an answer. He held my wine hostage until I agreed.”

“So what is he like?” Brook said, sounding like a giddy girl. Usually I was pretty tight-lipped about my private life because it was almost nonexistent, but she looked so hopeful, I gave in.

“He is really sweet, but he also has this take-control kind of attitude. It’s unbelievably sexy. Oh, and did I forget to mention he’s an FBI agent?” I almost laughed when her mouth fell open in awe.

“No way,” she whined. “I’m the one with the man-in-uniform fetish, and you get the man and the uniform. That’s cruel.” Ever since she was little, Brooklyn has always loved uniformed men. Not just cops but firemen and even soldiers. “So when are you seeing him again?” she pressed.

“Sunday,” I replied. “His job keeps him pretty busy, and he said he’ll be tied up until then. He’s supposed to call me.”

“Well, I’m glad you ran into him again. I could tell he made an impression on you after that night. After you kissed him.”

Before I thought twice about it, I was confessing more details than I had planned. “That kiss was nothing compared to tonight.”

“What?” her eyes grew wide.

I scurried into the bathroom and shut the door quickly.

“Please, like this door being closed is going to make me forget about the details you owe me. You can’t just say something like that and leave a girl hanging,” she said through the door before she began beating on it. “Listen, hooker, I will camp out on the floor here. You’ll have to tell me sooner or later.”

I crawled into the shower wearing a smile so big, my cheeks hurt. I knew I would have to tell her once I got out, otherwise I would have to sleep in the bathroom. So for the next fifteen minutes, I chose to ignore her knocking and whining and lived my Josh fantasies out in my head, alone.

Chapter 9

Josh

Greyson, Mike, and I sat at the table, facing our targets. Leo’s eyes were locked on mine. I knew the game he was playing—intimidate me so I’d feel like he could control me. I wasn’t buying into it. I held his stare, my mouth pressed in a tight line. The men we knew as Pavel and Nicolay stood at Leo’s side, arms crossed and guns strapped to their waists in full view. Another intimidation tactic.

“We have a shipment, and we need a location to store the goods. We’ve been told you are the men to provide that location.” Leo spoke directly to me. “Of course, I will have my men stationed there as well.”

“I’m sure we can come up with a place, for the right price,” Greyson said

Leo smirked and gave Nicolay a look. Adrenaline pumped hard through my body as Nicolay reached inside his coat pocket. I kept my own hand resting on the gun strapped at my waist. It was not out of the ordinary for us to be holding guns, considering we were playing the roles of drug runners. After all, we were the roughest group of men in the area, or so Leo had been informed by our planted agents.

Nicolay lifted the phone from the inside pocket of his jacket and tapped the screen before putting it to his ear. “Bring them in.”

Moments later, I heard the familiar clicking of heels as five females entered the room. My stomach twisted as I allowed myself to look at them. They were girls, not women. I would be amazed if any of them was eighteen. This was one of the crimes Roman’s people were known for—prostitution of underage girls.

“We brought gifts to show our gratitude,” Leo announced, waving them in our direction.

The three of us remained seated as the girls rounded the table and stepped up behind each of us. The other two approached Leo and stood at his sides. My stomach lurched as he slid his hand up the thigh of the redhead at his left. When it disappeared beneath her skirt and she parted her legs, bile rose in my throat.

“Please, gentlemen, accept our gift. Otherwise, we may become offended.” Leo narrowed his eyes at me.

This was a test of our loyalty, but the idea of violating one of these young women made me sick to my fucking stomach. I knew I was being watched, and I had a choice to make. I placed my hand over the one the girl was resting on my shoulder. As I tugged it and brought her around my side, she lowered herself to my lap. When she looked at me in fear, I was on the verge of losing control. I wanted to stand up and put a bullet in each of Leo’s men before finishing him off, then bring these girls back to safety and ensure they got the help they needed. But I knew I couldn’t. Unfortunately, they were the tools we needed to take down the bad guy, which meant we couldn’t do anything for them yet. But I could make sure this sweet girl felt safe for tonight at least.

I brushed my finger over her cheekbone as she trembled against me, her wide eyes still gazing at me in fear.

“You do right by us and we promise free pussy whenever you men are in need,” Leo said smugly, staring at me. “Why don’t you gentlemen take these three lovely ladies into the room behind you? Enjoy yourselves. We will talk more afterward.”

I knew I had to take the step to show him we could be trusted. I also knew it would be one of the hardest fucking moves I had ever been forced to make. I stood, lifting the petite girl with me, and pulled her body against mine. Her feet barely touched the floor. I placed one hand on her ass and kissed her hard. Pulling out of the kiss, I looked over her shoulder to see a smile tugging at Leo’s lips.

“Free pussy is a start, Leo. My boys love pussy,” I said.

He nodded and removed his hand from under the girl’s skirt. When he licked his finger, I fought the urge to fucking puke.

“Enjoy. These three girls are our newest. Fresh and untouched.” Leo snapped his fingers, and the girl in my arms jumped. She and the other two girls turned their full attention to him. “You treat these men well. Anything other than that will not be a good decision on your parts. Do I make myself clear?”

They nodded without hesitation, the fear in their eyes almost unbearable to look at. Then they took our hands and led us away.

The moment we were in the room and the door was closed, I looked at Mike and Greyson and then at our surroundings. There were two couches and one recliner in the center of the room, and a king-sized bed tucked back in a corner. A large plasma-screen television was mounted on the wall.

Greyson spotted the camera anchored in the far corner at the exact moment I did. My original plan had just hit a snag. My stomach knotted again as I looked back down at the young girl before me.

“What do you want to do?” she asked. She was trying to sound confident and maybe alluring, yet I sensed her fear. “Whatever you need.”

I knew going into this job that I would be forced to do some things I would not be proud of. Fuck, I had hoped I could avoid situations like this, but we couldn’t with fucking cameras watching our every move. We all knew it, and judging by the silent conversation Mike and Greyson were having with their eyes, they were having a hard time with this too.

I nodded toward Greyson, and he in turn nodded to Mike. We each took the hand of the girl we had been “gifted” and led them to separate areas of the room.

I sat down on the couch with my back to the camera and pulled the girl onto my lap, forcing her to straddle me. I gripped her hip with one hand and placed my other on the back of her neck. Bringing her face closer to mine, I looked her in the eyes.

“How old are you?” I asked.

She didn’t hesitate. “I’m seventeen.”

I stared at her, wondering how someone so young could get herself in this mess. Where the hell were the people that should have been protecting her?

“Leo said you were untouched,” I said. “How untouched?”

“I’m not a virgin. I just haven’t been with any of the men. Except Leo. He has sex with all the girls.”

My heart sank as I imagined that slime ball putting his hands on her. “Do you want to do this?”

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “I’m here to please you.” She immediately shifted her gaze toward the camera.

“Not this, sweetheart.” I brought her face closer to mine so I could whisper against her ear. “I’m talking about being one of Leo’s girls. Is that the life you see for yourself? Be honest with me.”

When I allowed her to pull back, her lower lip trembled as she looked at me. Her big, blue eyes were filled with terror. Instead of answering me, she lowered her mouth to mine, and I allowed her to kiss me gently.

“No,” she whispered against my lips, and I understood then that she was protecting herself from the cameras. Her hair had fallen forward as she leaned in, and I used it as a shield so I could continue to work this situation out.

“I don’t want to have sex. I have a lady,” I told her. “But you and I both know if we don’t put on a show, Leo won’t be pleased.” I kissed her once more, and she nodded in agreement. “So a show is what we’ll give him.”

I looked to my left. Mike was on the couch with his girl, his body resting over hers, shielding her from the camera. He was whispering to her, and she was nodding up at him. Greyson had his brunette across the room near the bed, pressed firmly against the wall. A sheer curtain hung just to the side of the bed, offering them a small amount of privacy.

Mike nodded at me and Greyson did the same before they turned back to their girls. We were all on the same page.

“You ready to test your acting skills out?” I asked.

“I’m not sure I understand.”

I had a strong desire to protect this sweet girl. The idea of Leo or one of his men harming her pissed me off to no end. “That camera over my shoulder is allowing Leo and his men to test us. All of us. Not only is he watching you three girls, but he’s trying to see if he can trust us. So we need to play this all out.”

I looked over toward Greyson, and he had already moved toward the bed, his body covering the girl’s.

“We aren’t gonna be having sex,” I told my girl, and her face instantly relaxed. “But we have to make it look like we are. Do you think you can do that? Or do I need to shield you like the others are?”

She leaned forward and ran her tongue along the shell of my ear. “I can handle it. I always wanted to try acting.”

When she leaned back and lifted her shirt over her head, my mouth went dry. This was so fucked up on so many levels, and I knew it would haunt me for weeks.

For the next ten minutes, she ground on me and we kissed while moaning and groans of deep pleasure filled the room as we all played our parts. I did my best to refrain from touching her too much, only rubbing along her sides and back, but then she placed my hand on her breast as she pressed her chest toward my face. She played off each moan and gasp so perfectly, she almost had me fooled.

I lowered my jeans and boxers and kept a hand near my dick. The less our bodies truly made contact, the better, and I was leaving nothing to chance. The blonde hovering over me began to bounce, as if she were riding me hard and fast. I just wanted this entire damn thing to end, so when she threw her head back and screamed out in the best fucking imitation of a fake orgasm I’d ever seen, I too groaned deeply. Her body fell forward against mine as she feigned taking in deep, calming breaths.

“Do you think we fooled them?” she whispered near my ear.

“You fooled me, sweetheart, so I am more than sure you gave them a decent show.”

We spent a few minutes righting ourselves, and the three girls did the same. When we exited the room, Leo and his men were sitting at the table where we left them. I was positive they hadn’t just sat there the entire time. They each were smoking cigars with a large bottle of whiskey sitting on the table before them.

“It would appear the six of you have had a good time.” He smirked.

I spoke for the group, continuing the suggestion that I was in charge. “Best pussy I’ve had in a long time. We are very pleased.”

“Good.” He motioned to the chairs we had occupied earlier and looked up at the three girls. “Your job is complete, ladies. The car is waiting downstairs.”

As they began to walk away, a thought occurred to me. A thought I was sure would later get me in trouble. The first rule of going undercover is don’t get involved. But I pressed forward anyway.

“Wait,” I said, and the girls froze. I could sense Mike and Greyson staring at me from the sides. “We are still negotiating, is that correct?”

“True,” Leo said as he narrowed his eyes.

“We would like you to promise that these three girls remain ours,” I said.

“Taking a liking to our whores already.” Leo chuckled as he turned to Pavel.

“We do have some sweet pussy to offer,” Pavel said as he looked over at the girls. “Jillian, I’ve been told, has some skills.” He licked his lips, and the brunette who had gone into the room with Greyson looked down toward the floor.

Leo chuckled and turned back to face me, his expression puzzled. “We have plenty of women to offer. Why these three? I can assure you that anytime you want a girl, we will have plenty to choose from.”

I pointed to the girls. “We like them fresh and untouched. Consider them your gift to us for our willingness to offer you what you need.” I knew I shouldn’t be playing this game, but I couldn’t fucking let them walk out of here without trying.

“Let me get this straight.” Leo took a drink of whiskey. Lowering his glass back to the table, he locked his eyes with me. “We gain access to your storage facilities, and in return you gain these three for your own personal fuck toys. Is that correct?”

“Yes,” I replied without hesitation.

He leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table. “I can see they have made an impression. I too agree they are sweet.” He ran his finger over his lower lip, and I tensed up. He wasn’t done testing us. “Molly has a very sweet pussy, but I have to say Zara was the best of the three. What do you think, James?” he asked me.

We had all chosen to use our middle names as our undercover aliases. The possibility of an error would be less likely when our lie was a little closer to the truth.

“Well, seeing as I only had the pleasure of fucking one of them, I would have to say I’ll let you know. I said we wanted them, but I never said we wouldn’t share among ourselves.”

I held his stare, and he broke out in laughter. “Okay.” He slapped the top of the table, and the three girls jumped. “You have a deal, James. These three will remain yours for as long as our deal in in effect.”

I looked over at the girls, who looked relieved. I knew I would get my ass chewed later regarding the shit I had just pulled, but I couldn’t stop myself. I couldn’t grab them and walk out the door, but I sure as shit was going to keep them safe as much as I could.