Page 78 of The Professional
“You’re amazing.” Rourke turned his back and hit the screen on his phone. He walked toward the front of the store and Forrest heard him say, “Good afternoon, sir. Please tell me we have Diaz by the balls.”
Of course it was about Diaz. Everything was lately. Conall and Killough were on high alert, as was Rourke. The fact that she’d changed her tactics had rattled them, which made Forrest wonder if he should tell Rourke about Diazbumpinginto him by accident just a few minutes ago. He didn’t want to stress Rourke out, but he’d learned a hard lesson with Montague and keeping secrets.
In the meantime, Forrest picked up five different pairs of panties that he’d chosen for Rourke, and only Rourke. He’d start seeing clients again next week, but he had no interest in wearing any sexy underwear for them. If Sloan and Conall wanted him to stay as a professional, he would, he just wouldn’t put in the kind of effort he had before.
By the time Rourke returned, Forrest grabbed a handbasket and put his choices in it. “Conall or Sloan?” Forrest asked when Rourke reached him.
“Conall. Diaz isn’t showing up to the coffee shop anymore. He thinks she’s suspicious about the change of baristas.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah.” Rourke massaged his temple. “She’s a smart bitch.”
“I….” Forrest heaved a sigh. “I saw her today.”
“What?” Rourke’s eyes widened. “When?”
“On the way here, it’s why I was late.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t want to worry you.” Forrest touched the fabric of one of the panties he’d chosen. Silk and a deep green, his favorite color.
“Baby, you need to tell me these things.” Rourke touched his shoulders. “Look at me.”
Forrest raised his gaze and met Rourke’s worried stare. “I know. I’m telling you now. I wasn’t going to talk to her, but she said something.”
“What did she say?”
“She mentioned I had a twin brother. I think she used that photo she took of me and found my name and real birth certificate. She said he lived in New Gothenburg, and she’d tell me more if I gave her information about the Killough Company.”
“What did you say?” Rourke whispered.
“You know what I said. I told her I didn’t know anything.”
“Good. That’s good, baby.”
“But then she changed her tactics. Said I’m just a possession, nothing more. When that didn’t work, she mentioned you.”
Rourke cupped his cheek. “She knows about us.”
Forrest nodded. “She said she could arrest you on what you’ve done for Killough, and I could help you by exchanging information. She’s desperate, Rourke, but I didn’t tell her a thing.”
Rourke placed a kiss on his forehead, and Forrest closed his eyes, relishing in the feeling of Rourke’s lips on his skin. “You’re so amazing, baby. You did good.”
“There’s one other thing I think you need to talk to Conall and Sloan about.”
“What is it?”
“She said there’s a rat in the company, someone giving information to her. She also said the rat gave information to the Italians which caused the shootout at the Virtue. There has to be truth in it, how else would she know about what the Italians did?”
“Fuck.” Rourke crossed his arms. “She definitely knows something she shouldn’t.”
“You cleaned up the Virtue mess.”
“Yeah, I did, and it cost us a pretty fortune too. We kept the neighbors quiet with some hush money, got some boys in to do some cleaning. Only certain members in the Killough Company, the workers and clients who were there, and the Italians knew about it, but they’d keep their mouths shut. It’s already an embarrassment for them.”
“None of the professionals would have spoken. We know better.”
