CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: my name

HOPE

Everything had changed.

Not just the way he looked at me—softer now, more lingering. Or the way his touch wasn’t always fire and restraint, but warmth. Real.

It was everything. The silence. The eye contact. The way he stood just a little closer than before.

Ace Mason, the man who didn’t bend for anyone, loosened up around me. He smirked more. Joked, even. Touched me just because.

It would be delusional to think I hadn’t trapped him. And yet... the dangerous part? I felt trapped too.

Not by him. But by whatever this was—between us. I kept reminding myself why I was here. What I was supposed to be doing. But each time he pulled me into his arms, whispered my name like a secret only he was allowed to keep, it got harder to remember.

We stayed back for a few extra days after the gala. Days we spent getting lost in hotel sheets and between kisses. It was reckless, selfish—and addictive.

By the time we landed back home, I had to will myself not to look at him too long. Bob was already waiting at the airport to pick us up, and though he didn’t say anything, I could feel the weight of his gaze.

The drive back was quiet. Too quiet. As soon as we pulled up, Bob dropped me off at my quarters and drove off with Ace.

Just like that, the bubble popped.

********

I stood in my room, unsure what to do next. Unpacking felt too… final. Sleeping felt impossible. My heart still hadn’t slowed down from the flight. Or from Ace.

I had barely kicked off my shoes when I heard a knock.

“Ugh,” I groaned, dragging myself to the door. “Bee, seriously?”

She stood there with her arms folded and an exaggerated grin on her face. “Took you long enough to answer. I was about to break the door down.”

I stepped aside and let her in. “Don’t you ever get tired?”

“I live for drama. And you, my dear Hope, just got back from the city of drama. Spill.”

I flopped onto the bed while she sat cross-legged at the edge like an eager toddler.

“It was a gala,” I said with a shrug. “Charity stuff. Old men in suits. Mafia bosses pretending they care about the world.”

She rolled her eyes. “Uh-huh. You’re not fooling me. I know you didn’t wear that blue silk dress for world peace. What really happened?”

I laughed. “You sound like my diary.”

“Well, then confess to your diary,” she teased. “Did Ace kiss you under the moonlight? Did someone propose? Did you find out you're royalty?”

I gave her a half smile. “Let’s just say it was... enlightening.”

That seemed to satisfy her curiosity for a moment. But not enough. “Come on. You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”

I nodded, my smile dimming a little. I trusted Bee. She was the closest thing to a friend I had here. But I wasn’t ready to spill that part. Not yet.

Because if word got out that I was sleeping with Ace, that I might mean something to him, I’d go from being just another face in the crowd… to being his weakness.

And in this world, that could be fatal.

So instead, I laughed with her. Gave her the PG version of the gala. And when she finally left, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Ace had let his guard down for me.

I just hoped I wouldn’t be the reason he got burned.

Or... I might actually be the reason he got burned.

********

It was time.

I had let Evans slip by too many times, brushing off the guilt, trying to stay cautious. But I wasn’t just Ace’s assistant anymore—I was also his woman, even if neither of us said it out loud. And whether Ace knew it or not, he trusted me now. That meant something. And it came with expectations.

Evans was going to talk. One way or another.

I spotted him outside the enterprise building, seated under the far-off umbrella table by the courtyard, pretending to enjoy a sad-looking burger. Alone. Just the way I needed him.

I approached slowly, casually—one of those walks that looked friendly to outsiders but had purpose stamped in every step. He looked up, startled at first, then masked it with that fake corporate smirk.

“Miss Hope,” he said. “Didn’t expect to see you down here.”

I smiled back, pulling the chair out across from him without asking. “Well, Evans, I’m full of surprises.”

He chuckled awkwardly, shifting his tray. “Uh, can I help you with something?”

“You can, actually,” I said, leaning in, lowering my voice. “I know about Cranes Electronics. And I know about you.”

His smile dropped faster than a rock off a cliff.

“I don’t know what you’re—”

“Don’t insult me.” My tone sharpened, still quiet, but now laced with steel. “You’ve been passing inside info to Cranes, feeding them just enough to undercut our patents and sales. You think no one noticed? You think the boss didn’t notice?”

His lips parted like he wanted to protest, but I didn’t give him the chance.

“You know who he is, right? You know what he does to traitors?” I leaned even closer, voice barely above a whisper. “You’re lucky it’s me sitting across from you and not him.”

He swallowed hard, eyes darting around like someone might be watching. “I... I didn’t want to—It was just money. They made it sound like nothing serious.”

“Of course they did. That’s how betrayal always starts.” I sat back, crossing my arms. “So here’s the deal. You’re going to tell me everything—who contacted you, what they paid, what files you gave. And then, you’re going to come with me.”

“To where?” he asked, already pale.

“To Ace,” I said simply. “But it’ll be on my terms, not his. I won’t promise he won’t be pissed, but at least you’ll be breathing when it’s over.”

He hesitated, then exhaled shakily. “Okay… okay. I’ll talk.”

And he did. Every last detail came spilling out—dates, names, what they wanted, what they planned next. I got everything I needed and a bit more.

When I finally handed Evans over to Ace later that day, the look on Ace’s face was unreadable—but I knew him well enough now to spot the faintest glint of approval in his eyes.

To me, it was a win-win. If I hadn’t gone after Evans, Ace would’ve. And Evans? He sure as hell wasn’t going to tell me anything once Ace got his hands on him.

So I did what had to be done. Made him speak to me first.

I had provided intel I gathered at the gala to the Bureau.

The FBI had infiltrated the Giordanos and seized a massive stash of illegal goods they were moments away from shipping overseas.

One move at a time, very soon the underworld would know my name, Agent Hope Major.