-RIPLEY-I sat in the hotel, staring out the large window up at the stars. This was the first time I was dealing with rejection and it felt strange.I was questioning whether there was something wrong with me. And I wasn't sure if I was hurt by the rejection, or if it was only because my ego took a knock.But there was something about Fin rejecting me that made me feel off.It bugged me and hurt me more than it should have."Rip." Fin's voice pulled me from my thoughts."What?" I turned to look at him."Are you okay? You've been quiet since we got back.""Of course I'm okay. I get rejected every second day, it's the norm." My voice dripped with more sarcasm than I would have liked.He frowned, "I didn't reject you, Ripley."I raised my brow, "Really? You don't think that counts as rejection?"He sighed and came over to sit beside me, "Ripley, it's not a rejection. I'm not going to take advantage of you."I rolled my eyes, "I came onto you. How is that taking advantage?""You're drunk.
-RIPLEY-"Has he told you who we're meeting?" I asked, looking over at Fin."He gave me an address and a code name."I chewed at my nails, I was beginning to feel anxious, I wasn't sure if it was due to the drugs leaving my system or if it was because I wasn't sure what Fin was planning."Fin?""Yes?""You have to let this play out how it's meant to. Don't go losing your shit.""How about you let me handle this?"I sighed, "If you handle it, we might both end up dead." I snapped back.His jaw tightened but he said nothing.I reached for my bag."No.""Fin, I can't do this sober."He moved in a flash, snatching my bag and flinging it out thewindow of the moving car.My mouth dropped in surprise, "What the hell?!""We can talk about that later. We're here."I turned to look at the hotel, it was fancy. It was always fancy. Even with so many scumbags in it.Fin got out of the car and I followed him.We stepped into the lift together and he pressed the '16' button."Any idea who this guy i
-FIN-My blood boiled as I walked into the police station. I walked through with my mind on the goal - which was Hilton.I slammed the door open and he looked up in surprise, but his frown turned into amusement, "Let me guess, you want more information about Ripley."I narrowed my eyes as I stormed toward him.My lips were in a tight line while my jaw tensed and my brows knitted."O'Clery?" Hilton's voice came out pitched and shaky.I reached over his desk, grabbing hold of his collar, "What did you do to her?" I pulled him over the desk, "Don't even try to lie."His eyes held fear, even though he tried to act calm, "Calm down. You're -"I shoved him into the wall, "I asked you a question, Hilton.""I have no idea what you're talking about."I punched him, my bruised knuckles ached in protest, "Do you really want to play this game?"Hilton smirked, "You've come in here and assaulted me. Do you know how easy it will be for me to go to your superiors?""Yes. And if you do that, I have a
-RIPLEY-There was a knock at the door and Bobby got it.I was sitting on the sofa and my eyes widened when I saw Hilton walk in.His nose area was black from bruising."What the hell happened to you?" Bobby asked.I held my breath, I was sure it had to do with a certain FBI agent."I had a run in with a perp. Nothing major."I breathed out in relief, I was worried he would mention Fin.But my relief turned to panic when Hilton's eyes landed on me."I was hoping I could have some time with Ripley."My stomach dropped.Bobby smiled, "Of course. The guest room is open."Hilton shook his head, "No, I was hoping to take her elsewhere."Bobby turned to me, "We have that shipment coming in tonight. Suppose I won't need her."My stomach churned, "Bobby-""Go with him, Ripley."I got to my feet, my legs trembling beneath me as I followed Hilton to his car.I got in and discreetly held my phone next to my thigh. I was tempted to call Fin.But then Hilton got in."Don't look so panicked. I have
This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.•RIPLEY•Being the only daughter of Kinley and Gianni Esposito had been tough.My father was a strict man, and although he raised both my brother and me with a strict set of rules, I always felt as if I got it a little worse.When I took the job with Captain Hilton, all hell broke loose."This job will end badly for you." My father had told me.But, of course, I didn't listen.I thought I could do it, I thought I could go undercover as an informant and get the information needed on the bad guys.What I didn't realize was that these people were not small fry.They were as bad as my father had been, some were worse.It's what started it all, really. My undoing.I sat in my tight, t
SOME YEARS LATER •RIPLEY• Laying on the sofa with a blanket wrapped around my body I looked over at Bobby who was standing near the doorway."How are you feeling, baby?"I shot him a glare, "You beat me black and blue. How do you think I'm feeling?""I told you that I'm sorry. But if you would just listen to me, none of that would have happened.""I did listen to you!" I snapped angrily, "I did everything that you asked of me. Yet again.""You lost me a deal when you clawed my client's face to pieces."I rolled my eyes, I couldn't believe what I was hearing, "Yeah after he tried to force himself on me. What did you expect to happen?"Bobby sighed and walked over to the sofa, crouching down in front of me, "Force himself on you? Ripley, you were there to do whatever he wanted you to. I permitted him, so you need to realize that you had no right to attack him."I glared at him, but I knew better than to say anything to him.I should have been used to these deals Bobby had me doing. The
•RIPLEY• "Why does he hate me so much?" Sloan asked as her eyes fell on my father. I sighed, Sloan was my brother Renato's girlfriend. She also just so happened to be the daughter of Noah O'Clery, one of my father's many enemies. "I don't know. As far as I can tell, he has no issues with your uncle." My parents had told me the story of how Fin O'Clery helped them. It was always a little strange to me how my father was okay with Fin, but hated the idea of Renato being with Sloan because of her family. I watched my father talking to Bobby over by the pool and I couldn't help but feel resentment bubble up within me. How could he not sense that Bobby was no good? If he would just do some digging, he would find out. A part of me wished he would, that way I wouldn't be at fault. But I couldn't be the one to tell them anything. Bobby would ruin my father if I did. And with his health all up and down, that was not a risk I wanted to take. "Are you okay?" Sloan asked me suddenly, "Ye
•FIN•I paged through the magazine in my hand, not actually reading anything of it.Checking my watch I looked around the hospital waiting room. If King wasn't someone I was close with I wouldn't have been sitting here. But his daughter was having a bad turn after a car accident and I didn't want to leave King without any support. His wife left him a few years ago, and I was the old bastard's only real friend these days.Probably due to his alcoholism. But I wasn't about to tell him that. In the last twenty-something years I was part of the FBI, and he was my partner. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't have lasted as long.A bunch of nurses rushing by with a young woman on a stretcher caught my eye and I frowned in their direction. All I had been able to see was a badly bruised face.I shook my head and turned back to my magazine."Fin. Do you want some coffee? Doc's given her the all-clear."I nodded at King, my eyes going over to the two cops standing outside the door where