I lean down, capture her mouth in a kiss that tastes like betrayal and need and dangerous choices. She kisses me back with desperate hunger, her hands fisting in my shirt.
When we break apart, we're both breathing hard.
"Tomorrow changes everything," she whispers.
"Tonight doesn't have to."
Her answer comes in the way she pulls me closer, choosing this moment over all the complications waiting outside these walls.
Federal agent. Irish mob enforcer. Two people who should be enemies finding something worth protecting in each other.
It might get us both killed.
But right now, it feels worth the risk.
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
CHAPTER 14:RELUCTANT ALLIANCE
I watch Eamon pace the safe house like a caged animal, fury radiating from every movement. Twenty-four hours since he discovered I'm FBI, and we're still dancing around the explosion waiting between us.
"We need to talk business," I say, spreading surveillance photos across the table. "Byrne expects results, and Moran won't wait forever."
He stops pacing, blue eyes cold as winter. "You want my help catching dirty feds?"
"I want to stop Moran from destroying your family while exposing the agents helping him." I tap the photos. "This affects us both."
Eamon approaches, examining shots of Byrne meeting with Moran's crew. "How long has this bastard been selling us out?"
"Years. Every major hit on your operations happened after Byrne received 'intelligence' about your activities." I arrange the timeline. "He's been setting you up while building his career."
His knuckles go white gripping the table edge. "Son of a bitch."
"If we prove the connection, we eliminate your Moran problem and my corruption case." I meet his stare. "But I need access to family records. Communication logs. Internal documents."
"From the woman who's been lying since day one?"
Fire shoots through my veins. "I never lied about wanting real criminals caught. Just about which badge I carry."
He studies me, war playing across his features. Then he pulls out his phone.
"Cillian," he says when it connects. "We've got a situation requiring family resources."
I listen as he explains—no mention of my deception, just the corruption threat. Smart. Keep it simple.
"She wants to talk," Eamon says, offering the phone.
"Agent Quinn." Cillian's voice carries ice. "My brother says you've identified threats to our mutual interests."
"Corrupt federal agents feeding Moran intelligence. They've compromised your security while advancing their careers on your blood."
"Stopping this benefits everyone?"
"Yes. The corruption ends, Moran loses his advantage, justice gets served."
Silence. "You'll have what you need. But this cooperation dies when the threat does."
