-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
•FIN• King walked into my office while I was staring out over the tall buildings. "You're in luck. Robert Jenkins, otherwise known as Bob. He's a businessman who is both well respected and feared amongst his peers. There's also been a few run-ins with the FBI in the past, drugs. But we could never nail him. We also have reason to believe that he has some pretty big names who have partnered in his company to make it look legit, again, no proof." He dropped the file on my desk. "Do I have the case?" "I thought you wanted to retire soon?" King asked with a smirk. "I do. But I want this case first." "Why? Why are you so hell-bent on this? Is it because she's Kinley's daughter?" I nodded, "Yeah. You know I care about Kinley, we bonded over all that shit with Gianni. How can I claim to care about them if I don't do something to help their daughter?" King sighed, "Fin, you're a damn good agent. I don't want to see you screw it all up over this girl. She isn't squeaky clean herself. Sh
•RIPLEY•The music of the club thumped in my head, it felt like the music was in my bones.I wasn't sure what Greg and his friend gave me, but it made me feel like my body was on another plane completely.My head was spinning but they weren't letting me off the dance floor. My feet hurt. I wanted to sit down.But instead, I was pressed between Greg and his friend, what was his name? Steve? No, Stanton. Something like that.Both are sleazy assholes I'd rather never see again.But Bobby would be pissed if I screwed this up.So I forced myself to dance between these two jerks. Greg was behind me and his hands drained down my front. I was repelled in disgust, but I kept my hands around Stanton's neck.Be a good girl. I kept repeating the mantra in my head over and over again.But then I felt sick and I rushed away to empty the contents of my stomach in the toilets.Bobby was going to be pissed about this.•FIN•I walked into the local precinct just as Swanson came rushing passed me, "Goo
•FIN• I was back home, but my mind was with Ripley. Although Robert welcomed me into his little operation with open arms, I still felt as if I lost. There was a knock on the door and when I opened it, I found King frowning at me. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked as he walked in. "Where is my report?" I motioned toward my table, "I'm still busy with it." That was the truth, I began my report but my mind kept straying to Ripley so I had been distracted. "Well, was it successful?" "Yes. Robert fell for it, and I'm in. I'm having a meeting with him tonight." King nodded, "Let me know if you need anything and I will get it done," he hesitated, "How is Ripley?" I shrugged, "She's... Ripley." I tried to play it down in an attempt to hide my true feelings on the matter. "Listen, Fin, did you know that Ripley was originally working for the cops? That's how this whole thing started with her downward spiral." "Hilton?" King nodded, "It looks like it. But don't go doing