They continued to work through the story. The two-floor house where they began their married life then sold and pared their entire life down to one room in the extended stay.
Dante went through some photos of the office she’d be working in. “These smiling people will be your coworkers. What are you going to tell them about your work history?”
The script rolled off her tongue. “I worked at my last job for a long time. Was up for promotion. But I was passed over because of the time I took off for…Mike’s…surgeries. Then I missed even more work and they let me go.”
Sinner made a low sound of disgust with an underlying grit of anger.
The screen flashed with more evidence supporting their case, including payroll stubs and Kelly’s notice of termination.
A map of the streets surrounding the office building popped onto the screen. Dante pointed. “This neighborhood surrounding your office—nice and safe. But three blocks over, there has been an average of ninety-two drug busts in the last two months. Your position alone is going to pique Cipher’s interest. But we have to get you noticed first.”
“Why doesn’t she just place an ad in the newspaper for terrorists looking for assets?” Sinner muttered, his expression dark.
Elin lifted her brows at him, and he locked his jaw as if biting off more words.
“Tell me how to get noticed,” Opal said.
Con gave her the faintest nod, as if she ever needed big papa’s approval.
Dante went on, “You go out in these streets.” More photos blipped by. “And you get noticed—”
“By drug dealers,” she finished.
Sinner’s hands snapped into fists, knuckles whitening.
“You will be searching for any pain pills you can get your hands on.” Dante ran through more photos of pills. “Percocet. Oxycodone. Hydrocodone. Morphine.”
Sinner’s stare landed on hers and held for a beat too long. But during that beat, she felt the storm inside him gathering strength.
For the first time ever, she looked away first.
Elin shifted in her seat, drawing Opal’s attention. “Remember that you’re broke and struggling to survive. To get money for drugs, you’ll place ads for odd jobs on this website.” A photo of a home page hit the screen. “Do whatever you feel capable of doing to earn money.”
Sinner let out a growl.
Elin gave him a pointed look. “Short of criminal activities, of course.”
Opal pushed out a sigh.
“Does that worry you, Opal?” Con spoke for the first time in a while.
“What I just heard is that, on top of being undercover, I have at least three jobs to his one.” She narrowed her eyes at Sinner.
He leaned in, just the slightest bit, but the action made his biceps strain against his shirt sleeves to the snapping point. “Why are you giving me a dirty look? I didn’t write the script.”
She put more effort into her glare.
He turned his head. “Con, I’d like to report a hostile work environment.”
Elin dipped her head to hide a smile, but Dante didn’t bother stopping his chuckle.
Opal narrowed her eyes even more at Sinner. “I’ll show you hostile.”
He pushed off the table, making the chair creak under his bulk. “What you said isn’t true. I have two jobs. Ghost ops, and construction worker.”
“And you make the pizzas,” Dante piped up.
Sinner waved a hand. “Just made my point. And now,” he shoved to his feet, extending to his full height of over six feet, “I’m gonna go make those pizzas.”
