Page 15 of Illicit

“So you do think I’m an idiot. Thanks for your confidence. I already told you I wasn’t going to go anywhere with him.”

Rocco drags a hand down his face. “I’m moving in a few days and have a shit ton to wrap up before I head back to Miami. I do not have time to investigate you too.”

It’s not lost on me that telling Rocco might work in my favor.

That’s a heavy might, but I could talk him into it.

There’s no way I can ask my dad without my parents freaking out on me. They’re already upset that I ditched the job in Miami to go to New York City. My mother hovers, and my dad is overprotective. Even so, Sammie is a shit show on normal days. In the past, they were too distracted by her to worry about me.

Until I announced my job change. You’d think I was the one who got knocked up and ditched by her deadbeat boyfriend who made a million empty promises to love and cherish her forever and ever. Sammie is unemployed and on her way to being a single mom. My parents have enough on their plates. Aside from one rogue semester during college, I’m boring. My sister is the one who keeps them up at night.

“There’s no way you can find out everything in two minutes.” It’s a stretch, but it’s my only leverage at the moment. And it doesn’t matter what happened two years ago. I know Rocco is the only one in my life who won’t shut me down and might actually help.

There’s that might again.

“Don’t underestimate me, Teag.”

“Don’t underestimate the work I’ve put into this project.”

He shakes his head. “I’ve never once underestimated you, taken you for granted, or doubted what you can accomplish, but I am the one with access to government files.”

“You won’t find anything on Stella Hayes,” I tell him the truth. “She’s never been processed, arrested, or fingerprinted. You’d have to put in the time the old-fashioned way.”

“Oh, yeah? Google or Facebook?”

“Seriously? So you do think I’m an idiot. There’s no need to be an asshole.”

A million memories flood my heart as a playful smirk kisses his lips.

More proof.

Once an addict, always an addict.

Gah.

I hate him.

“I’m just fucking with you … sort of. Teagan Coleman, Private Investigator is all new to me.”

Goosebumps prickle my skin as I think about all the ways Rocco could fuck with me. I want to tell him everything I’ve done since I blocked him. The urge to impress him overwhelms me. He might think he’s kept up on my life through Mom and Landyn, but the only thing they know is that I zipped through my master’s after getting my undergrad a semester early. I might spend my extra time volunteering, but not at the dog shelter like they think.

“I’ll make you a deal,” I offer.

That wipes the smirk clean off his face. “Why do I not like the sound of that?”

“I’ll tell you why I’m in New Orleans and why I met with Robichaux. Hell, I’ll tell you everything I know about him. You might be the big, bad government agent, but from the sounds of it, I know more than you.”

He cocks his head. “What do you want in return?”

“You can’t tell anyone. That includes your friends, their wives, and, especially, my parents.”

He studies me as he contemplates my offer.

“Good luck doing all the groundwork yourself. You’ve known about Jules for a year and have nothing on him. Your time in New Orleans is waning. You said it yourself—you only have three weeks. That’s not nearly long enough to build the relationships and trust that I have.”

He shakes his head. “Why do I have a feeling that you’re right and this is going to bite me in the ass?”

“Trust me, you can’t take the heat. But, if we’re careful, no one will find out.” I do everything I can to entice him. “You don’t realize it yet, but you need me, Roc. I’ll prove it to you.”

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