Page 44 of Sinful Bargains

“I know,” Marco said. “I just needed to get your orders. Paul and I can take care of him.”

I shoved the duffle bag into his chest. He caught it with a grunt. “Put it up,” I ordered. “I’m handling this myself. And I don’t need any fucking help.”

I was already sliding back into the driver’s seat, the engine growling to life.

The Shark was back.And he was coming straight for the head.

Dominic was an associate. A low-level, fucking nobody. A rat. A traitor. And a dead man walking. Fortunately, he wasn’t hard to find. Unfortunately, he was sitting inThe Wise Guy—wearing a goddamn wire—with cops on the other end, listening in on God knows what. I pushed through the doors, my jaw clenched so tight it ached.

“Joey!” Angela called out from behind the bar. “What can I get you?”

I barely heard her. I barely heard the jazz spilling from the speakers or the chatter and laughter of the packed speakeasy.

All I saw washim.

Dominic, laughing at something Sal said, completely fuckingclueless that The Shark was circling. That his time was up. My fingers twitched toward the cold metal pressed against my ribs. If I didn’t play this right, this place would turn into a bloodbath. And Ihateda mess. I exhaled sharply, forcing my shoulders to relax.Cool. Calm. Controlled.

“Whiskey,” I muttered.

If I said too much, the feds would be all over this place. And if that happened, weallwent down.

“Shark, hey, I wanted to talk to you?—”

Dominic barely got the words out before Angela slid my whiskey across the bar. I cut him off with a sharp glance. “Let me have my drink first.” I tossed it back in one go, the burn barely registering in my throat. Then I stood, rolling my shoulders, forcing a smile that seemed unnatural. My gaze flicked to the mirror behind the liquor display—dark coat, sharp jaw, ice-cold eyes.

I didn’t look like Joey. I didn’t feel like Joey, either.

“You’ve been bringing in someseriouscash,” I said. “Paul’s been talking you up. Christopher wants to meet with you tonight.”

Dominic’s face lit up like a fucking Christmas tree. Like the idiot I knew he was, he bought it. Because if you give a rat enough cheese, he'll take the bait every time. He grinned, all teeth, thinking he was about to become a made man.

No.He was about to become fish food at the bottom of the Bay.

“Let’s go. I’ve been ordered to drive you.”

I forced another smile. I let Dominic walk out first. I could’ve ended it right there—one clean shot to the back of the head, and he’d never see it coming. But I wanted him to see it coming. The drive to the dock was only five minutes, but the silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. “I wasn’t expecting this,” Dominic said, grinning like a fool.

“Me either,” I muttered, my eyes locked on the road. I pulledup to the loading dock, shifted into park, and killed the lights. That’s when I turned to him. Confusion flickered across his face—just for a second—before realization set in. I drew my gun, leveling it at him. His hands shot up, his voice rising in panicked chants.

“Joey. Joey. Joey?—”

But Joey wasn’t here.

I yanked up his shirt. There it was—taped right to his chest. A wire.

A fucking rat.

I ripped it off, then nudged the barrel of my gun between his ribs.

“Out,” I mouthed. He hesitated. “Now,” I mouthed.

He obeyed, stepping out onto the dock, his hands trembling at his sides. I stayed behind him, the gun pressed firmly against his back as we walked toward the edge.

“Joey, c’mon, let’s talk—” he whined. I tossed the wire into the water, watching it sink to the bottom. My fist drove into his gut, cutting off whatever bullshit plea was about to spill from his mouth. He doubled over, gasping for air, but I wasn’t done. My boot slammed into his ribs—once, twice, three times—each impact earning a pained wheeze. I crouched, grabbing him by the collar, yanking him up so we were face to face. His eyes were wide, desperate.

“You think I don’t have guys everywhere?” I hissed. “You thought you could get one over on me? You wouldn’t be the first. You sure as hell won’t be the last. But you’re about to pay the price, my friend.”

“Joey, please. T-They don’t know much—” he choked out.

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