Chapter 13

Benedict

My eyes are glued to the screen, my breath catching as Eva steps into the Delgado room. I’ve been watching these meetings for weeks, feeling like an outsider trying to decipher an ancient language. They speak in a mix of jargon and coded phrases that I can't make heads or tails of. It’s like I need a decoder pen to unravel their cryptic dialogue.

Eva walks in, her presence instantly commanding attention. She’s breathtaking, and I’m not the only one taking notice of the way she looks tonight. Her simple black dress clings to her curves, accentuating her figure in a way that’s both subtle and seductive. Her wig is perfectly in place, and her heavy smokey eyes paired with fire-engine red lipstick make her look like a noir film star.

As she steps further into the room, all the heads of the men present turn to her, their eyes lingering a bit too long for my liking. I feel a sharp spike of jealousy, an unexpected and unwelcome surge of possessiveness. I remind myself that I’m here to protect her, to guide her through this perilous task. But it’s hard to suppress the emotions bubbling up inside me.

I watch intently as she begins her role, moving gracefully between the men, taking drink orders, and making small talk. Her demeanor is poised, and she exudes a confidence that belies the nerves I know she must be feeling. She’s doing remarkably well, and I can’t help but feel a swell of pride mixed with my growing concern.

Eva’s presence in the room seems to have a disarming effect on the men. They’re more relaxed, their conversations flowing more freely. I strain to pick up any clues, any piece of information that might make sense of the Delgado’s secretive operations.

One of the men, a tall, broad-shouldered figure with a dark beard, engages her in conversation. His eyes are locked onto hers, and he leans in closer than necessary. I clench my jaw, feeling an irrational surge of protectiveness. Eva handles it with grace, her laughter light and genuine, diffusing any potential tension.

As the night progresses, I keep my focus sharp, analyzing every interaction, every word. Eva’s ability to navigate this treacherous social landscape is impressive. She’s earning their trust, just as we hoped. But with that trust comes increased scrutiny, and I can’t afford to let my guard down.

The camera’s angle shifts, and I catch a glimpse of Eva’s face as she discreetly taps the top of her head with two fingers, two times. My heart skips a beat. I wait for the third tap.

I see the bearded man’s hand resting on her lower back, his touch lingering longer than it should. My protective instincts flare. I have to remind myself to stay calm, to wait for a clearer signal before intervening. I can’t blow her cover unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Eva steps back slightly, creating a bit more space between her and the man, and shakes her head. Is she signaling to me that she’s okay?

She flashes a reassuring smile in his direction, but I can see the tension in her shoulders. I’m ready to spring into action if needed, my attention laser-focused on her every move.

Adele steps into the room, and my pulse slows slightly.

Minutes tick by, feeling like hours, and the bearded man finally steps away, his attention diverted by Adele. Eva subtly relaxes, resuming her task of taking drink orders. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

This is just the beginning. The night is far from over, and the dangers are ever-present. As much as I hate the idea of her being in that room, I know she’s our best chance at uncovering the truth. I just hope I can keep her safe in the process.

My phone rings in my pocket, jolting me out of my intense focus on the screen. I answer it quickly, keeping my voice low. “Vin,” I say into the phone, trying to conceal the tension in my voice.

“How’re things going at the club?” Vin’s voice crackles through the line, and I can sense the urgency in his tone.

I can’t tell him I’ve enlisted the help of a Greedy Girl. He’d probably have my badge for it. So instead, I keep it vague. “Fine. The Delgados are meeting tonight.” I glance back at the screen, studying the man with the beard from before who was talking to Eva. “Who’s the new guy with them? Tall, bearded? I’ve never seen him before.”

“That’s Enzo Gabini. He’s Lazarus’ cousin. In town for a few weeks,” Vin replies, his voice grim.

I don’t like him. “In town from where?”

“Las Vegas. He’s a big shot casino owner.”

“I don’t trust him,” I say bluntly, my gut instincts screaming at me to be cautious.

Vin laughs humorlessly into the receiver. “I don’t trust any of them. I want you to specifically listen for locations. We got a tip that they’re moving a bunch of girls out of the country soon. We need to know when and where.”

I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Will do.” With that, I hang up the phone, my mind already racing with the new information.

Returning my focus to the screen, I notice that Eva is no longer in the room. Panic grips me, and I rush out of the small surveillance room, my heart pounding in my chest. I scan the main level of the club, searching desperately for her.

Spotting her near the restrooms, I make a beeline for her, relief flooding through me. I gently grab her elbow, leading her into a small alcove away from prying eyes. “Is everything okay?” I ask, my voice filled with concern.

She nods, her expression troubled. “I’m sorry I used the signal earlier. That man gives me the creeps.”

I resist the urge to pull her into a protective embrace, knowing we can’t afford to draw attention to ourselves. Instead, I place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. Your safety is my priority.”

Eva’s eyes meet mine, and there’s this all-consuming want coursing through my system, igniting a fire deep within me. She breathes heavily, her chest rising and falling with each ragged breath, drawing my attention to her cleavage. The dim lighting of the alcove casts soft shadows across her features, accentuating her beauty in a way that’s both mesmerizing and intoxicating.

My mouth waters, a primal urge stirring within me. I want to taste her, just once, to feel the softness of her lips against mine, to lose myself in the heat of the moment. The temptation is overwhelming, and I have to fight to keep my desires in check.

“I didn’t like that man touching you,” I whisper, my voice husky with barely restrained desire. I realize with a start that I’m entirely too close to her, our breaths mingling in the confined space. I could easily lean in a centimeter and capture her lips with mine. I almost want to.

“I didn’t like him touching me either,” Eva replies, her voice equally low and filled with tension.

I take a moment to collect myself, reminding myself of why we’re here and the risks we’re taking. Eva’s fighting for custody of her son, and I can’t afford to let my emotions cloud my judgment.

With effort, I pull back, putting some much-needed distance between us. “I think they like you,” I say, trying to keep my tone casual despite the turmoil raging inside me.

“What’s not to like?” Eva asks, a playful smile dancing on her lips, and it’s both endearing and maddening at the same time. Her words draw all of my attention to her succulent mouth, and I can’t help but wonder what she tastes like.

“We should get going before they start to miss you,” I say, stepping back even further, desperate to regain control of my emotions.

She nods in agreement. “Right. Wish me luck.” With that, she turns and strides down the hallway, her movements confident and purposeful. I watch her go, unable to tear my gaze away until she disappears from sight.

As she disappears around the corner, I let out a shaky breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me.

What the fuck is happening to me?

When I took this assignment, I knew there’d be temptation. But I’ve always prided myself on my ability to maintain control, to resist those urges that might lead me astray. However, there’s something about Eva that defies all logic, drawing me in on a primal level. It’s a desire that simmers beneath the surface, threatening to ignite into a blaze that consumes us both.

But I can’t afford to give in to those impulses, no matter how strong they may be. Eva sees me as a priest, a man of faith and virtue. I need to remember that, to honor the trust she’s placed in me. I can’t risk shattering her beliefs with one impulsive act, one stolen kiss that would betray everything she holds sacred.

I need to keep my cool, to maintain the facade of the devoted clergyman she believes me to be. She deserves better than to be caught in the crossfire of my internal struggle, to have her faith shaken by my own shortcomings.

As I make my way back to the surveillance room, the meeting is wrapping up. Eva is busy clearing glasses and ensuring the men leave satisfied. I watch her from afar, a mix of admiration and longing swirling within me.

Once the Delgados have left the club, Eva makes her way to the surveillance room. I open the door for her, and she walks in.

“Wow,” she says, looking at all the monitors.

“Not every room has surveillance. Just mainly the common areas.” I take a seat at the desk, a bank of monitors behind me.

“Do your eyes ever stray?” she asks me, a gleam of mischief in her eyes.

“Stray to a room where people are having sex?”

She nods, taking a seat on a couch not far from my desk. “Yeah.” She leans back, arching her back in the most seductive way. And she doesn’t even realize how sensual she’s being. She’s probably just stretching her back from a long night at work, but the pervert I am, can’t stop watching the way her neck curves. The way her breasts rise and fall with each breath she takes.

Fuck.

“No,” I say, angry with myself for not being able to control myself.

“Why did you become a priest?” she asks me as she settles into the couch, crossing her legs slowly, drawing my eyes to her long legs. What I wouldn’t give to have those legs wrapped around my neck for an evening.

And now I lie and stick to the story given to me by the F.B.I. “I grew up a Catholic, and always knew I wanted to serve God in some capacity. One thing led to another, and that landed me here.” I don’t go too far into the fake backstory, because honestly I don’t like lying to Eva.

I feel like I’ve seen her life. It’s all been put out there for me to see, every ounce of honesty, and I hate that I can’t do the same for her.

I hate that I can’t tell her how I grew up in Chicago. From an ordinary family and never went to church a day in my life.

How I enlisted to become a cop right out of high school, and that led me to the F.B.I. How I’ve never done anything else. How I’ve never had a life that wasn’t consumed by catching bad men.

“You aren’t like any priest I’ve ever met,” she says softly.

“How many have you met?”

She laughs lightly. “Not too many, but still. You have this fire. This passion for doing the Lord’s work.”

I feel like telling her what I’m really passionate about is catching these bad men and bringing down their trafficking ring. “Yeah,” I say on an exhale.

“Was it hard?”

My eyes widen slightly. “Excuse me?”

She covers her mouth with a gasp. “I didn’t mean it sexually. I meant was it hard to, you know, give it up.”

“Are you talking about sex, Eva?”

She nods quickly. “I don’t know if I ever could. I mean, sure sex isn’t that great, but I don’t know if I could give it up completely.”

There’s so much to unpack in her words, I find myself stumbling over myself on where to start. “Sex isn’t that great?” I ask her, deciding to start there.

She blushes, and the way the color brightens up her cheeks is a major turn on. And now my pants do grow tight across my zipper. “Well,” she starts. “I have really only had sex with my ex-husband, and let’s just say he didn’t really care about my needs.”

I nearly growl at the way she says the words. My mind instantly goes through reel after reel of all the ways I could show her the right ways to be treated. How I could make her come for hours if given the chance.

Maybe when this assignment is over I can find her, ask her out on an actual date. If she would ever forgive me for lying to her, that is.

But for now I’m left staring at her, probably drooling a bit.

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, Father,” she says, and I shake my head like I’m not bothered at all by her comments.

“It wasn’t hard for me.”

“Do you not enjoy sex either?” she asks me with this doe-eyed expression.

I crack a grin. “I enjoy it… a lot,” I say.

“So why give it up?”

I really don’t have an answer for her, so I go with the truth. “Sometimes there’s more to life than sex. I enjoyed sex. I was good at it, but there’s a bigger purpose for me. This sex-trafficking ring is my main focus now.”

Her mouth hangs open, like I’ve shocked her with something I’ve said. “You’re good at it,” she whispers, and I nearly groan out loud at the implication.

Like she wants me to show her just how good I can be.

And with her I could be so fucking good.

The way her eyes bore into mine makes me feel dizzy with lust. Like I’ve had one too many beers, and now I need somebody to drive me home and put me to bed. Preferably her.

I shake the sensation away and clear my throat. “I used to be good at it.”

Eva recrosses her legs, drawing my eyes to the action. “Can we talk candidly, Father? How do you know when it’s really good?”

My eyes must register my shock because she turns away, waving her hand like she wants me to forget her question. “Nevermind,” she says, but I’m already wanting to answer her.

“Sex isn’t a shameful thing, Eva. When two people get it right it can be the most powerful drug on the planet.”

“Is wanting that a sin?”

I tilt my head, understanding why she thinks that. And who knows, hell, maybe the whole Catholic religion believes it, but I can’t. I can’t believe something that feels so fucking good can be a bad thing. “It doesn’t have to be one,” I tell her. “When you’re with somebody you love.” Oh god, now I sound like my parents giving out the birds and the bees speech.

Eva notices and laughs lightly. “Sex isn't at the top of my priority list right now. Getting my son back is. Honestly, I’d be just like you, happy to give it up forever.”

I blink at her. Give up sex? Forever? For some reason this need to show Eva what good sex, what sex with me, would be like overwhelms me.

My dick hardens in my pants, and I need to navigate this topic to safer grounds. I can’t very well show Eva anything right here and now.

She views me as a priest, and maybe that’s all I’ll ever be for her.

She definitely deserves a priest to help her out of her sticky situation. Not some man thinking about all the ways he’d like to fuck her.

No, she definitely doesn’t deserve that.