Page 50 of Illicit

I flip my blinker fast and change lanes, making a last-second decision. “It usually takes a few hours to process that much cash for an undercover buy. We’ll eat and play the rest of the night by ear.”

“And get my car,” she adds.

“I just got you back. You’re so anxious to leave,” I say as I pull into the parking lot of my favorite restaurant.

“I’m just…” Her thought trails off. All of a sudden, she sounds exhausted. “I don’t know what I am these days.”

“Whatever it is, you’d better be hungry. I’ll see you soon.”

“Mmm, a surprise,” she hums. “You know I don’t like surprises.”

“Touché. I felt the same way when you showed up to meet with Robichaux.”

“The surprise of the year,” she notes.

I turn off my car, grab my cell, and climb out. “Teagan, you might as well be the surprise of a lifetime. If you keep this up, it won’t be good for my heart.”

“I’ll, ah, see you soon?”

“Soon,” I confirm.

“Oh, Rocco?”

“For someone who didn’t talk to me for almost two years, you’re chatty on the phone. I like it.”

“I was just going to ask for beignets—if they have them at your mystery restaurant.”

“Thanks a lot. I’ve known you for half your life. I know what you like. You just ruined the surprise.”

She doesn’t sound the least bit sorry she ruined anything. “I can’t wait. See you soon.”

I end the call and as soon as I open the door, the old woman greets me by name. “Rocco! I thought you were moving to Miami!”

“I couldn’t leave without having your gumbo one more time.”

She beams. “The usual then?”

I stuff my hands in my pockets as she takes my order. “Yes, but double it. And I need a box of beignets.”

“Look at you,” she exclaims. “Gonna go out with a bang, aren’t ya? Lemme go box those up for ya. Be right back.”

That makes me think of the fuse that’s flickered too many times in the last couple days. If I tiptoe closer to the line of no return, it’ll explode with a bang. And it won’t have to do with gumbo or baked goods.

And as the moments click on, I care less and less that she’s off limits to me.

11

GOTH GIRLFRIEND

Rocco

“Your last hurrah in NOLA. You good to go?” Taylor asks.

I look into my rearview mirror to straighten my collar. “I’m ready to get this shit done. Can you hear my mic?”

“Loud and clear.” Taylor is in the tech van on the next block. More agents are on standby in case this goes to hell. But every muscle in my body isn’t tense tonight like they were last night.

Teagan is nowhere in sight.

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