"Perfect. I wasn’t sure what the state police had worked out. Now, what questions do you have?"
This is weird. I’ve been a cop for a couple of years, was in the military for three. Before I was even old enough to rent a car, I’d seen action and could legally arrest someone. To know they’re giving me this much responsibility is terrifying—but I also know this is what I was born to do.
"How real is this supposed to be?"
"As real as you can make it, David. The president of the club has a daughter a few years younger than you. It might be a good idea to try and date her."
I stretch my legs out in front of me. "That’s a possibility. Do you have a picture of her, so I know who she is?"
He reaches into his desk drawer and pulls out a photo, sliding it across the desk. "This is her. Daniela. She’s a bit of a wild card. Rebellious and full of adventure. Her dad has a hard time keeping her under his thumb. I think she’ll be easy to turn."
Gazing at the picture, I see her—a young girl with bright eyes and a smile that lights up the room. There are dimples in both her cheeks, tanned skin, and dark, curly hair that begs to be touched.
In that moment, I know I’m never going to be the same again.
There’s a knock at the door, pulling me from my thoughts. In walks another man, who looks a lot like me. Tattoos. Muscular. Only his hair is longer.
"David, this is Officer Swain. He’ll be your best friend—Dime."
We look at each other and realize we’re the only two people we’ll be able to trust for a long time.
"Look, I know this is a problem." I run a hand through my hair.
"How do you propose I fix it?" Chief Harrison asks, leveling me with a glare. He’s always been an intimidating man, and I was more than honored when I was hired for this job. I still want to make him proud. "If they find out who you are, you’re dead. The feelings you’ve built with her are based on lies, and as a man who’s been married a lot longer than you, that’s no place to start a relationship."
Licking my lips, I bite the bottom one. "I’d like to continue what I’m doing. We’ll have surveillance of Tommy for you within the next few days. I still believe in the law. I still know this is my calling. Maybe it just looks a little different now."
"Alright," he sighs. "But keep me informed of how you’re feeling and how you think it’s going. If we need to pull you out quickly, we will. This isn’t just you—it’s Swain, too."
I nod. "Understood, sir."
He dismisses me, and I get back on my bike, heading out of Calvert County. But as I cross the line...
I see someone I don’t expect.
My wife.
And she’s going to wonder what the fuck I’m doing.
Chapter 8
Dani
I’ve left the greenhouse and I’m going to get some new soil I’ve purchased when I see something that makes me do a double-take. The familiar silhouette of Devil on his bike, coming from the direction of Calvert County. My heart does this weird little skip thing it always does when I see him unexpectedly, but there’s something else mixed in with it today: confusion.
What the hell is he doing way out here?
Without really thinking about it, I make a U-turn and follow him. Not in a stalker-ish way, but more like a wife who’s curious about why her husband is twenty miles from where he typically is. There’s a reason for me to be here, but what is his? The sun beats down on my windshield as I accelerate to catch up with him, my mind spinning with possibilities.
Club business, I tell myself. It’s always club business.
But something feels off. Maybe it’s the way his shoulders are set, tense and rigid even from this distance. Or maybe it’s just my own paranoia from the conversation we’ve had about secrets and promises.
I flash my headlights at him, and he glances in his rearview mirror. Even through his helmet, I can see the moment he recognizes my SUV. He slows down and pulls over to the shoulder, and I follow suit.
“Hey, hey,” I say as I climb out of my car, trying to keep my tone light even though my stomach is doing flips. “Fancy meeting you here.”
He takes his helmet off, running his hand through his hair in that way he always does when he’s thinking. “Hey, babe. What are you doing out this way?”
