“Sometimes the profiles are wrong. That’s why it’s good we’re here in the field. When we go to her casino, we’ll get the confirmation we need.”

“And hopefully find out more about the operation.”

“All in due time.”

I pick up my wine glass and get comfortable on the couch once more.

“I know this takes time, but I’ve been tracking her for ages. I just want this win so badly.”

“You’ll get it. Once we’re in and part of the family, as they say, we’ll get more access than we could dream of right now.”

“We need to scope it out when we go.”

“We will. I promise.”

I know we should probably head to bed, but I want to keep chatting with Grant. I’m suddenly not feeling as courageous as I was at the start, but I still long to be around him. I don’t want to go back to my empty bedroom alone.

“Can I ask you a question?” he asks.

“Yeah, sure.”

He doesn’t want it to end either.

“Why the Kingpin of Charlotte? I’ve never been able to figure it out.”

“Are you telling me that I’ve stumped the great Grant Sinclair on something?” I tease.

“Maybe you have.”

I blush into my shoulder.

“It’s a long story.”

“We have time.”

“One of my best friends, Liam, has a sister, Harper. She’s now engaged to Grayson.”

“Brother’s best friend? How forbidden,” Grant says with a chuckle.

Not as forbidden as if I slept with my dad’s best friend like I want to, but I won’t bring that up.

“She’s younger than us by a few years and had a terrible ex-boyfriend. Anyhow, that ex-boyfriend was one of the Kingpin’s, I mean, Cordelia’s runners.”

Grant focuses on this news.

“Yeah. I thought it was a man for a long time, but until recently, I wasn’t positive. The profiles, as you know, can varywith new intel. Anyway, the ex-boyfriend really scared Harper. That’s why I got involved, and then, well, it was too good of a case to pass up.”

“You did this on your own.”

“Yeah, no one hired me to track down the Kingpin, really. It’s been a passion project of mine.”

“I can understand how that goes.”

“The Marlin.”

He sighs.

“Yeah, the Marlin.”