Massimo forces Fiero back into his chair. “Don Accardi, please refrain from saying anything unless it’s conducive to the conversation, and you still need to apologize to Gia. I’m your president, and I demand it.”
Caleb clenches his jaw as he eyeballs the woman across the table. “I apologize, Gia. Sorry if the truth hurts.”
I briefly close my eyes. Why must my twin continuously do this? It’s like he has a self-destruct button he can’t help flipping.
“If you’ll excuse Don Accardi and me for a few moments, please,” Ben says, standing up and stalking toward Caleb. Caleb makes no move to get up until Ben whispers something in his ear, and then the two of them walk out, taking most of the tension with them.
“I apologize, Gia,” Massimo says. “What Caleb said is not what we think.”
She lifts her chin defiantly. “You shouldn’t apologize for him. He’s the one who said it, not you. I’m well aware of the trainwreck that is Caleb Accardi. I’ve watched that shit show going down for years.”
“Watch your mouth,” I snap, unwilling to sit by and let anyone talk shit about my brother when he’s not here to defend himself.
“I thought we were speaking openly, but my bad if I misconstrued the situation,” she calmly replies as our eyes go into battle.
“Everyone needs to calm down,” Cristian says, claiming Gia’s attention.
I rotate my neck, attempting to loosen the knots in my shoulders.
“Caleb was harsh and misguided in his delivery. Yes, your role is to seduce Liam, but you also need to utilize all your skills to investigate every aspect of his life and the Irish operation while you are on the inside,” Massimo says.
“We will equip you with the relevant tools so you can scan documents, take photos, and capture every piece of intel,” I say.
“And no one is saying you must fuck him. There are creative ways to avoid that if you’re smart enough, and I know you are.”
Cristian, Massimo, and I stare at Fiero like he’s grown an extra head. How do you avoid having sex with someone when your role is to seduce them? Liam doesn’t do virgins, so we can’t take that approach.
“Liam likes confident ballsy redheads,” I say, sliding a few photos across the desk to her. “These are some of his exes and most recent conquests. The ones who lasted the longest were those who challenged him. He doesn’t want a mousy broad. He likes his women sexy and smart.”
“This role was made for you, Gia.” Cristian and Gia exchange a meaningful look, and I sit up straighter in my chair. What the hell was that? “And it’s so much more than sex.”
“Keeping your wits about you while you gather evidence requires balls of steel, cunning, and street smarts,” Massimo says. “If we wanted someone purely to spread their legs, wewould not be talking to you. We need someone who is the full package, and that someone is you. I understand aspects of this will be unpleasant, but that is the nature of the informant role. There will always be things you have to do you won’t like, but you signed up for this.”
“My father knows this?”
Fiero nods. “If it helps, he threatened to kill me at first until he calmed down.”
“Well, shit.” Gia knits her hands together on her lap.
“We wouldn’t be asking this if the situation wasn’t serious and urgent,” I supply.
“We will do our utmost to ensure you are protected and you get out alive. O’Hara has promised to provide protection from the inside. We can’t tell you one hundred percent you will come out of this unscathed, but we will do everything we can to keep you safe,” Massimo adds as Ben and Caleb reenter the room.
Air expels from her mouth. She waits until everyone is seated before nodding. “Okay. I’ll do it. I understand the risks and what’s expected of me, and I’ll do everything I can to get the intel we need.” She drills Caleb with a look. “Including spreading my legs if that’s what it takes.”
Chapter Six
Gia
“Nice car,” I say, admiring the custom leather interiors as Joshua reverses his Maserati out of the parking space.
“Do you have history with Cristian?” he asks, out of nowhere, completely ignoring my comment. He didn’t say a single word to me from the time we left the meeting, rode the elevator, collected my stuff at the armory, and got into his car in the underground parking lot of Commission HQ. He just stared straight ahead, exuding irritation. It’s not my fault he’s been assigned as my handler or that he had to reschedule his entire day to assist with my transformation. I could easily have managed it myself, but time is of the essence, and Joshua will apparently be able to pull strings to get shit done quicker than me.
It's not like I can disagree anyway. I know I crossed the line a few times upstairs when I Iet anger get the better of me. I was so freaking mad at first until it was explained more clearly. Can’t say I’m happy I might have to fuck that Irish prick, but I’ll do it if it comes down to it. I just don’t want the board to see me as somefemme fatale they can roll out when the need arises. I didn’t sign up to be Mata Hari. I want the assignments the guys get too.
“Answer me,” Joshua commands, yanking me from my inner monologue.
Joshua used to be sweet and kind, but there is no trace of that boy in the man he is today. It’s sad really, but this life can do that to a person. I’ve seen it more times than I can count. I glance out the window as he drives into lunchtime traffic. “I know Cristian because of the circles we mix in. You were at most of the same parties, events, and family gatherings.” I’m fudging my answer on purpose because fuck him. He doesn’t get to ask me personal shit and snap at me like I’m some kind of performing animal.
