Prologue

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, too-short dress beside Lucas.

"Where is Bobby?" He asked himself as he looked at his watch.

Lucas was a trafficker, a pimp, and a drug dealer.

And he thought I was his right hand. He had no idea that I was here to get evidence against him to send him away for a very long time.

I had been undercover with him for months, and it was my hardest job yet.

I started as one of his girls that he sold on the street corners and worked my way into his trust.

Now, he allowed me to hook his potential business partners.

Bobby Jenkins was a new interest; he was one of the top smugglers, and Lucas saw the potential.

When Hilton briefed me about Bobby, I immediately became worried.

He had been doing this for a long time; I was worried he would realize I was playing them after taking one look at me.

Now, while we waited for him, the knot in my stomach became heavier as time passed by.

"Here." Lucas held out his finger, the white powder sitting neatly on the edge.

I wanted to shake my head and decline, but I knew that would cause suspicion, so I leaned over and sniffed it in.

My nose burned and my eyes teared up.

In the few years I had been doing this job, I tried to avoid the drugs at all costs, but sometimes there was no way around it.

"Starting the party without me?"

I turned my attention to Bobby as he walked in.

He was a complete contrast to Lucas. Lucas was rugged-looking; you could see he was dangerous.

But Bobby was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

He wore a smart blue suit that brought out the blue in his eyes. His dark hair was neatly trimmed on his head, and what threw me the most was the smile on his face as he looked at me.

It was a kind smile.

Not one I was used to seeing from the men Lucas dealt with.

"It took you long enough, Jenkins. Do you think I have all night to sit and wait for you?"

Bobby didn't miss a beat. "I was busy. Now, can we talk business?"

Lucas nodded, "Well, that's what we're here for, isn't it?"

Bobby took a seat, but his eyes kept trailing over to me as he and Lucas spoke.

"Get us some drinks," Lucas instructed me.

I had to bite my tongue not to snap and tell him to do it himself.

I went over to the drinks cabinet and refilled the two glasses before handing them to them each.

I wasn't paying attention to their conversation; I didn't need to.

My bracelet was a recording device. I would take the recording to Hilton in the morning, and this would finally be over.

Or so I thought.

To my surprise, as the night progressed, Bobby had no interest in me, and soon, Lucas was sending me out to the streets.

I wanted to decline, but I knew I couldn't blow my last day on the job.

What I didn't expect was a car to pull up, and Bobby Jenkins to be the driver.

"Get in."

I had a feeling this would be the start of something bad, but I got in.

"What are you doing out here?"

"I, uh, I work for Lucas. I do as I'm told."

"Why do you work for Lucas? Your father is one of the most feared mafia men."

I spun to him with wide eyes, "What?" I ran through my thoughts frantically; how could he know that?

"I know you aren't Liv Johnson. You are Ripley Rose Esposito. I was late tonight because I was busy getting information on you. So, why are you pretending to be someone you aren't?"

"I don't know-"

"Don't bother lying to me. I know everything. And if you look in the glove compartment, you will see that I know everything about your family too."

Despite my thoughts, I opened the glove compartment and pulled out files.

Sure enough, it was everything about me and my family.

There was no use lying now. "So what now?"

"Now, I will help you put Lucas away, but you leave me out of it. And I want a date. You're too pretty to be doing this shit; it could get you killed."

I believed him, I fell for his charm, and I agreed.

If only I had known what a mess Bobby was about to make of my life.

I never would have made a deal with him if I had known.

But as he drove me home and sat talking to me till the early hours of the morning, I thought I saw good in him.

I thought he was a genuinely caring man.

I could never have imagined the utter hell he was about to take me into.

But then, I never could have imagined that through his evil, such a blessing would come from it.

After all, if it wasn't for Bobby, I never would have met my knight in shining armor.

Sometimes you just have to go through hell to get to heaven.