by April Hunt
“This isn’t a fucking game.”
“Damn right it’s fucking not,” Stone snarled, uncharacteristically losing his temper. He turned toward Vince. “You have questions? Ask him. And don’t feel like you have to sugarcoat things for his fragile disposition, because these are your asses on the line.”
There wasn’t much Vince wouldn’t take on. Despite his having the SEALs years ago, the love of a challenge was still engrained in his DNA. But since they’d obviously—somehow—lumped Charlie into this, he was going to make sure it wasn’t a fucking Hail Mary play.
Vince didn’t bother holding back. “What happened to the agents you’ve already sent on the inside?”
Dennison’s discomfort put Vince on edge as he waited for an answer.
The DHS agent finally spoke. “The suspected front-runners of the trafficking ring are a big deal here in South Florida. Big name. Big crime. Big scare factor…and it’s not all buzz. And unfortunately, they’re not very trusting individuals. In their line of work, they can’t afford to be. Anyone we send on the inside to gather intel gets under their scrutiny and ultimately, gets ferreted out.”
Way to dodge the fucking question.
“What. Happened. To. Your. Agents,” Vince repeated.
Dennison shifted in his seat, looking like he’d rather swallow rusty nails than say the words aloud. “As best we know, their covers were compromised.”
“As best you know…and you can’t ask them?” Vince definitely didn’t get the warm and fucking fuzzies.
“No. One’s in critical condition. One’s missing. And one…”
“One what?”
“We’ve had an agent that’s been deep undercover for years.”
“And what? You lost him or her too?”
“Shortened version?” Dennison looked like he was about to hurl. “We don’t know if he’s been compromised and is fighting to maintain his cover, or if he’s…”
“Joined the other side,” Stone finished for the agent. “Basically, they don’t know where his loyalties really belong and considering anyone else they send on the inside doesn’t come out the same way, hopes aren’t high for a happy reunion.”
“So bring your agent in and question his sorry ass,” Vince suggested matter-of-factly.
Dennison let out a huff. “If we do that, we can kiss any chance of finding those missing girls, good-bye. Whether our agent is in on the ring, or if he’s still maintaining his cover, we’d put the entire damn thing at risk. If we oust him, they’ll shut down and move operations. We don’t have time to send in someone new. It takes too long for them to gain trust, if they get it at all. We need someone who has it automatically, someone who can feel out where our agent’s loyalties lie, and to help find information on the trafficking ring.”
Dennison’s attention slid to Charlie. What the actual fuck?
Arms folded across her chest, Charlie simply glared back at the agent as if she had the power to hurtle javelin spears through the video comm.
“We know this isn’t an ideal situation, Miss Sparks,” Dennison began, cut off by Charlie’s snort.
“You know?” she asked, her voice low and deceptively calm. “Do you also know that I vowed never to step foot in that bloody city again? Ever? If you think my sudden return isn’t going to be suspect, you’re delusional.”
“We think that not only is your return not going to be questioned, but it’s going to be celebrated. Our sources tell us that Arturo’s sick—terminal cancer. He’s riding out his final days, claiming to be cleaning shop and shutting down.”
Vince finally saw a flicker of emotion cross over her face. It was there and gone too quickly for him to decipher what it was. “But you don’t believe him,” she stated.
Dennison snorted. “A bastard like Arturo doesn’t one day wake up and decide an overabundance of power isn’t for him—cancer or not. I’m more likely to believe that he’s expanded his criminal forte into human trafficking than that he’s turning his holdings into legit businesses.”
Agent Dennison looked fucking constipated as he glared at them through the video screen. “You don’t look as though you agree, Miss Sparks. I was led to believe that you’ve never condoned his lifestyle—that it was the reason you left.”
Charlie looked like she wanted a turn to reach through the screen and throttle the DHS agent. “Why I left Miami is none of your bloody business. I’m just trying to figure out why a man on his deathbed would be looking to expand his criminal reach when he’s not going to be around to enjoy it. And it’s not like he has a viable heir to the throne. It doesn’t make sense.”
“That’s why we need someone on the inside, Miss Sparks. For years, you were his shining jewel. If anyone could slide back into the life without question, it’s you. If our sources are correct, and Arturo is the mastermind behind this trafficking ring, you could very well be holding the lives of these innocent girls in your hands.”
Guilt trips were a low blow and, despite the fact Charlie wasn’t the type to be guilted into doing something she didn’t want to do, the woman had a soft spot for doing the right thing when innocents were involved.
Dots slowly began to connect in Vince’s mind.
Miami. Crime. Arturo.
A grim, colorful picture started forming in Vince’s head. He hoped he was fucking wrong. “Are you talking about Arturo-fucking-Franconi? You want us to infiltrate the community and gain intelligence on one of the country’s deadliest fucking mob heads? Why the hell do you think English would be safer going on the inside than anyone else?”
Agent Dennison stared him dead in the eye. “Because Miss Sparks happens to be his niece.”
About the Author
April Hunt blames her incurable chocolate addiction on growing up in rural Pennsylvania, way too close to America’s chocolate capital, Hershey. She now lives in Virginia with her college sweetheart husband, two young children, and a cat who thinks she’s a human-dog hybrid. On those rare occasions she’s not donning the cape of her children’s personal chauffeur, April’s either planning, plotting, or writing about her next alpha hero and the woman he never knew he needed, but now can’t live without.
You can learn more at:
AprilHuntBooks.com
Twitter @AprilHuntBooks
Facebook.com
Acclaim for
April Hunt’s Novels
Heated Pursuit
“Smartly balances slow-burning passion and explosive high-stakes danger. This book kicks off an adventure-packed romance series, and readers will eagerly anticipate the next installment.”
—Publishers Weekly
“4 stars! Fast paced and intriguing.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Fun and sexy.”
—SmexyBooks.com
“April Hunt creates a sexy, thrilling, action-packed story with Heated Pursuit. I could not put this book down.”
— JoJoTheBookaholic.blogspot.com
“A fantastic, fast-paced, and well-developed debut! A hot alpha saving a feisty woman…what’s not to love?”
—Sidney Halston, USA Today bestselling author
“Heat, humor, and heart-pounding action! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!”
—Annie Rains, USA Today bestselling author
Also by April Hunt
Heated Pursuit
Fall in Love with Forever Romance
A SMALL-TOWN BRIDE
By Hope Ramsay
Amy Lyndon is tired of being “the poor little rich girl” of Shenandoah Falls. In her prominent family, she’s the ordinary one—no Ivy League education and no powerful career. But when her father tries to marry her off, she finally has to stand up for herself, despite the consequences. Cut off from the family fortune, her first challenge is to find a job. And she’s vowed to never rely on another man ever again, no matter how hot or how handsome.
HOLDING FIRE
By April Hunt
Alpha Security operative Trey Hanson is ready to s
ettle down. When he meets a gorgeous blonde in a bar, and the connection between them is off the charts, he thinks he’s finally found the one. But after their night together ends in a hail of gunfire and she disappears in the chaos, Trey’s reasons for tracking her down are personal…until he learns she’s his next assignment. Fans of Rebecca Zanetti and Julie Ann Walker will love the newest romantic suspense novel from April Hunt!
THE HIGHLAND DUKE
By Amy Jarecki
Fans of Outlander will love this sweeping Scottish epic from award-winning author Amy Jarecki. When Akira Ayres finds a brawny Scot with a musket ball in his thigh, the healer will do whatever it takes to save his life…even fleeing with him across the Highlands. Geordie knows if Akira discovers his true identity, both their lives will be jeopardized. The only way to protect the lass is to keep her by his side. But the longer he’s with her, the harder it becomes to imagine letting her go…
FOREVER MINE
By Erin Nicholas
The newest book in New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas’s Opposites Attract series!
Maya Goodwin doesn’t believe in holding back. Ever. As a cop, she never hesitated to throw herself into harm’s way to save someone. As a doctor, Alex Nolan knows all too well that risks can have deadly consequences. So Maya—daring and spontaneous—is the exact opposite of who he’s looking for. But he can’t resist exploring their sizzling attraction, even though falling for Maya might just be way too hazardous for his heart.
CRAZY FOR YOU
By Rachel Lacey
Emma Rush can’t remember a time when she didn’t have a thing for Ryan Blake. The small town’s resident bad boy is just so freakin’ hot—with tattoos, a motorcycle, and enough rough-around-the-edges sexiness to melt all her self-control. Now that Emma’s over being a “good girl,” she needs a little help being naughty…and Ryan is the perfect place to start.
