Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Tru

S hoving my laptop and water bottle into my backpack, I was happy to be done for the night. Writing a fake dissertation was too much work, but gathering evidence on her boyfriend had been more challenging.

I wished Ronin was doing this part.

Waiting for Ari to finish clacking away on her keyboard, I silently peeked around the renovated third-floor room. An old French-styled mansard roof created a beautiful space, and dormer-style floor-to-ceiling windows made this part of the house feel old-money-luxurious. The office held ten-foot-tall wooden bookshelves, a massive refurbished fireplace, and a large work area crafted from two old desks.

“Feel free to crash here, Tru. You can have this whole room,” Ari said.

“Thank you. Sincerely, but I’ll sleep much better in my bed.” I quickly slipped on my pseudo-moccasin house shoes, ready to head out. Ari nodded.

“Girl…you’ve got your ‘fantasy date with a kinky twist’ lined up for next week with Ronin, right?”

Plastering on my syrupy, sweet smile, I said, “Totally. And I cannot wait.”

“And you won’t tell me any more about it other than you’re going to fulfill some fantasy you two have?”

“Nope. This one is between Ronin and me.” I pretended to lock my lips shut and throw away the key.

“Can you at least tell me what you’re wearing?” Ari’s bottom lip poked out, creating an over-the-top pouty look.

“I don’t know that yet either because Ronin picked out my outfit.”

God, why did I feel guilty lying to her?

The truth was that work hadn’t figured out my outfit yet, where the bugs needed to be placed because we knew he had to have a secret space somewhere in that house, or what weapons I would be taking with me, so the “I don’t know” answer was not a complete lie. Plus, she had to know some bits about Corbin’s business dealings even though she’d said nothing, leading me to believe that she may not know—it was discouraging.

“Ooooo…now that’s hot. And how sweet. Your man is picking out your outfit.” She wiggled her eyebrows and leaned toward me. “Dinner and then kink, or…”

“I just don’t know.” A soft giggle escaped at her insistence, but I couldn’t help it. With her tenacity, maybe she should be an FBI agent.

“Fine.” Ari sighed. “But I get all the details after…if you guys love it. Corbin and I could totally get into some of that kind of fun.”

“You’ve got it.” I lied again.

“You’re so slutty…I love it.”

Geez-us, if this poor girl only knew how deep my “fantasy” went, she’d probably pass out. She had to be only into late 90s rom-coms at best. Seriously, the girl always wore an Elle-style choker, but what did I know? And, of course, she was always doing that snapping…bendy move around Corbin. It had to be her favorite flirting trick.

For all I knew, she could be a secret serial killer. I had only known her for what—one semester? Besides, I’d only chosen her to be my friend so I could stake out her boyfriend.

“Skydancer, it’s time. Our target is on the move.” Pretending to fidget with my hair, I tapped my earpiece.

“Gotta scoot, Ari. Thank you again for the great study guides. I appreciate them.” I moved quickly toward the stairs. “Tell Corbin I said goodnight.”

“I will.”

Her reply echoed down the stairs as I hit the front door and scurried across the street to the waiting old 90s tan Cadillac with my partner sitting in the front seat. His freaking cars were such a piece of the identities he created, but whatever helped Ronin get undercover worked for me. At least the car didn’t stick out in this neighborhood.

“Did you get what we needed?” Ronin pulled the already warmed-up vehicle away from the curb.

I slipped a plastic baggie out of my backpack with a glass neatly tucked inside of it. “The suspect’s fingerprints are all over it. Ari and Corbin also believe that you’re my significant other and that we’re going on a masked fantasy date next week down the street at his kink club.”

“A what?” Ronin glared at me and then back at the road.

“A fake kinky date this weekend. That way, we can work in a bit of fun on this mission. You and I have been too boring in our pretend bedroom lately. I need some spice.” I patted his cheek. “Besides, that way, if she saw any of my gear, she’d just think it was a part of our sex life.”

“Damn, Tru…didn’t know you played that way.” Ronin grinned. “I’m just a small-town boy. I don’t know a thing about that kinky stuff.”

I leaned back into the deep seat of the well-worn caddy. “Right…and I’m Elvis.”

Ronin barked out a rare chuckle.

“Was that a laugh, Highflyer?” Both of our earpieces squawked at us.

“I think it was,” I said, chuckling back.