Page 40 of Special Agent Joseph

“What? Sell? I don’t know. Is my money gone? I have a credit card.”

He shook his head slowly, his stringy hair hanging limp from being unwashed. “Na. Bad idea. The cops are probably watching for us to surface. I heard in the street yesterday that they’re looking for you.”

“For me? My grandfather. He’s the one.”

“Then maybe we don’t take any chances. Look, I have a friend who lost his girl. He’s lonely and needs some loving. I told himabout you and how sweet you are. Do you think he could get a piece of action from you, baby. He’ll pay. Do it for me… for us.”

Shocked by his meaning, she had to make sure she understood. Rousing herself to sound reasonable, she mumbled, “You want me to fuck him. For money? And you’ll be okay with that?”

“Only if you want to.” Kissing her mouth first and then sliding his hands on each side of her face to keep her attention, he whispered, “We need to rebuild our stash or we’re gonna be in trouble.” Raphael kept her in his arms, holding her upright so she wouldn’t slump over. “Baby, please. Do it for us? I won’t be mad.”

“For us?” She understood in her heart that what he’d asked her was sick. Yet in her sweet fog, he made a strange kind of sense. She could save them.

And she would.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Megan relived the night before, accepting that she didn’t remember a lot and what she did remember made her angry. She’d let Bear get the best of her and yet she’d done everything she could to save herself. Bastard had a fist like a wrecking ball. Her stomach was bruised and her head felt sore and shaken.

Thank God for Jack. He’d saved her from the worst possible nightmare, and she knew it. She also knew that when Joe arrived, he’d also changed the dangerous scenario. They’d made it to safety, and she had him to thank for that.

The rest of the night remained foggy, yet surprisingly, she’d felt safe and comforted with Joe close by. Not wanting to read too much into that thought, she forced herself to think of the bigger problem.

They hadn’t managed to find Lucia, and her worry for the girl’s safety increased. She’d hoped the lost teen would reach out to her. Yet no matter how many times she checked her texts, nothing showed up. No telling how much trouble she’d gottenherself into hanging around with the pit’s losers. Megan’s head hurt thinking about it.

A message had come through from headquarters earlier, one that needed Megan’s attention. Deciding to go there and follow up on the summons from the ASAC, she dressed in her Megan clothes, including her dark wig, and drove to the Bureau. Knocking on Sheila’s door, she waited for her to look up from her computer screen.

“Hey, Megan. Good, you’re here. You got my message.”

“I did. What’s up?” Megan sauntered in and slumped in the chair across from the desk.

“You okay?” Sheila’s eyes narrowed.

“Don’t ask.”

“I am asking. What?”

“It’s nothing. Got into a bit of a tussle with a guy called Bear. He looks like his name. In case you wondered, he won.”

“And yet you’re here, altogether in one piece.”

“Thanks to Jack.”

“Jack?” Sheila leaned back in the chair, settling in to listen.

“Joe’s German Shephard. Dog’s an ex-K9. Long story.”

“I got time.”

“Right. So… the dog attacked one dude, sent him running, and came back to put Bear against the wall.”

“Where was the hero in this fight?”

“Getting information a few blocks away. He came in time to end the battle and call off his dog. He got me upright to help him interrogate Bear… with Jack’s help of course. The prick was scared spitless of the animal. Don’t blame him. When Jack’s raging, raring to attack, his snarling jaws are incredibly intimidating.”

“S’at right? Your abundant adjectives paint an all too vivid picture.” Her sarcasm lessened. “Seriously, glad you’re okay.But… what I want to know is if you got any update as to where the girl might be.”

“Nothing concrete.” Megan explained about the loser they’d been told about who might have absconded with Lucia. “Unfortunately, we have no leads on this asshole. I’m going to see Vinnie this afternoon with an update. I’m hoping his people might be able to add something on the subject.”

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