Page 39 of Dealing Dirty
Ben yanks a hand through his thick black hair. “I just got a call from one of my partners, and it’s not good.”
I ignore the sting of him calling one of Diablo’s lackeys his partner. My heart rate jacks up fast enough that my vision blurs. “Spit it out.”
He glances up from the floor to Jack before turning worried eyes on me. “It’s Sasha.”
Chapter Eleven
Juliana
Sasha.
My throat constricts as Ben fills the guys in on the call he just received. Micah’s already halfway across the room with frown lines pulling under his amber eyes. “What’s going on?”
Hazel’s gone still, listening intently from beside me.
Ben shifts to Derrick. “Has she mentioned anything to you about a case she’s been working on recently?”
The man I had writhing with pleasure just over an hour ago is nowhere to be found. The beast I teased and taunted simmers beneath the surface, only his eyes don’t hold that usual consuming flame. Instead, a burning fierceness lies in their depths, and it’s borderline petrifying.
“She may have mentioned something to me a couple of weeks ago, yes.”
Ben shifts his weight, crossing his arms. “Did she give any hint as to who she was investigating?”
Derrick’s shoulders roll back. His voice drops dangerously low. “Just because you’re working for Diablo doesn’t mean you get to interrogate me. Tell me what the fuck is going on.”
“D, relax,” Jack says, placing a palm over his bicep. There’s an obvious bond between them all, but Jack is nothing less than alpha.
Ben’s eyes grow dark as his brows slant to a frown. “Félix called to tell me there’s a female officer who’s been trailing our guys. They’ve been given orders to lure her to the casino by the old drive-in tonight and figure out her motive by whatever means they deem necessary.”
“And Félix is your partner?” Cassidy asks.
He gives her a curt nod. “I’m to report to the casino for backup should she bring additional officers, but I believe she’s alone.”
Hazel pipes up, “What makes you think it’s Sasha? There’s got to be a number of different female officers working for the PD.”
“Bright red hair and blue eyes. From the description Félix gave, it matches Sasha almost exactly. Besides, no other officer would dare risk it. If I had to guess, she’s probably going against orders from the chief.”
“And you can’t find her beforehand and tell her to scram?” Cassidy asks him.
A shake of his head has her shoulders drooping. “Now that the guys are onto her, it’ll be suspicious if I call her off.”
“Fuck this.” Derrick moves for his phone, dialing her number.
When it goes straight to voicemail twice, he slams it on the counter with a loudclack.
Ben’s voice takes on a lethal edge. “I understand how tempting it is to run headfirst into this like a hero, but Bruce is incredibly smart. He knows how to play this game well. His men will be strategically placed throughout the place, so if we want this to be authentic, we’ve got to let Sasha into the lion’s den.”
In one fell swoop, Derrick jumps over the bar and grabs the front of Ben’s shirt. We all stand, chairs sliding as we spread out in case they decide to brawl. Hazel quickly steps in front of Cassidy, using her body as a means of protection.
“You’ve lost your goddamn mind.” Derrick shakes from the force of his heaving breaths.
Ben shoves him back and straightens his shirt. “I’m not going to let anything happen to her.”
Derrick’s arms spread wide. “How can you promise me that when you just said your hands are tied? If you warn her, it’s going to turn them onto to you. Bruce isn’t stupid. He knows you’re still loyal to Jack.”
Brushing my hand over his back, I coax his taut muscles to relax. Derrick’s jaw tics, and the torment in his usually soft brown eyes twists my stomach into knots.
Jack looks solemn as he places his tattooed arms across his chest. “He’s right, Ben.”
