“God, no. But you can’t keep protecting that bastard. He beat you up and broke your arm.” He lifted his hand to caress her cheek. “This gorgeous face got damaged and I won’t let him get away with it.”
Her eyes were frantic now as she grasped his hand with her good one. “You can’t do anything about it. Promise me, you won’t say anything to him. You know how he is when he’s angry. He’ll kill you if he thinks you’re challenging him. Please, don’t do anything.”
Her tears slashed through him like a jagged knife. Seeing her miserable doubled his effort to keep her safe. He’d spoken with his supervisor and made some tentative arrangements.
“I won’t say anything to Moreno. I know how he is and I have no desire to get myself killed. But I don’t think you’ll be safe in your apartment. You have information on him that could be very dangerous.”
“Then what do you suggest I do? Where should I stay that he can’t find me? He has connections everywhere. And the only money I have is what I’ve saved for school.”
“The police can put you in protective custody.”
“The police,” she cried, shaking her head wildly. “No, I can’t go to the police. Moreno said he’d kill me and Tommy if I said anything to them. You’re nuts if you think I’ll risk my brother’s life.”
“Listen, it’s the safest place for you. Something big is going down with Moreno and soon. It’s why he’s been more volatile than ever lately. He has these grand schemes to grow his business into a huge empire and pictures himself as king. He won’t let anything get in the way. I don’t want you anywhere near him in this state.”
“Why does it matter where I am?”
He reached out and drew a finger down her cheek then lifted her chin. “It matters becauseyoumatter. I care for you, and I’d hate to see you get hurt worse than you are now. I feel guilty enough with what happened two nights ago. I should have been there to protect you and I wasn’t. I’m not going to let anything else happen to you.”
She stared at him, looking deep into his eyes. Were her feelings as strong as his? Her eyes dropped then lifted again, her confusion apparent.
“How do you know what Moreno is planning? Are you involved in these big schemes? Please tell me you’re not. I know the scum has tons of money but you know everything he does is illegal, right?”
He gave a light chuckle. “No, I’m not involved in his schemes but there are plenty of law enforcement who know exactly what’s going on. He’s going down big time, and soon. I want you out of the way when it happens.”
Her eyes narrowed. “How do you know all this?”
He swallowed hard. He could trust her, right? She hated Moreno as much as he did, maybe more but she was also desperately afraid of him.
“Listen, what I’m about to tell you cannot be repeated to anyone. Do you understand?”
She looked frightened but nodded.
“I’m an undercover cop. I work for the Miami Police Department.”
“What?” Her voice was so low he could barely hear it. “How can that be? I’ve known you for over two years. You’ve worked at Surf longer than I have.” Her voice grew angry. “You’ve just stood there as Moreno sells off his little tramps and hurts the gamblers who don’t pay their debts. How can you be a cop?”
“I’ve been undercover, Tina. If I arrested Moreno for every little infraction then my cover would have been blown. You know his expensive little tramps get paid a lot for what they do and they’re extremely loyal to him. And none of the businessmen who use their services would ever complain since what they’re doing is illegal too. Neither would testify against the man.”
“Then how about Katie? You knew what Moreno was doing to her, practically holding her hostage and using her as slave labor. How could you sit back and let that happen?”
“I’m undercover.” His jaw clenched hoping she could come to understand what that meant. “I have to pretend to be someone other than a cop. Moreno trusts me and he’s taken my word when I’ve vouched for him to hire other undercover cops. If my cover was blown, all of theirs would be too. Do you understand that? How much I had to stay in character to protect myself and many others?”
Emotions raced across her face and he waited for what would come next. His stomach twisted at the frown she wore and not the typical smile she usually gave him.
“I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact you aren’t just a bartender. You know I always thought you were too smart to work forever for Moreno. I kept waiting for you to tell me you were planning to go back to school to be something…else.”
“Well, I’d try and dumb myself down when I was with Moreno and his buddies but I never wanted you to think I was some stupid idiot. Your opinion means a lot to me.”
“But still….” She looked around the inside of the car. “I can’t believe you lied to me for over two years. I thought I knew you and now…now I realize I don’t know you at all.”
Those words were worse than anything he could have imagined. A viper coiled inside him, tightening and squeezing, making it difficult to breathe. But he couldn’t blame her. He had lied to her. His life the last few years had been a lie. But he still needed to live it, until they could put Moreno away for good.
“I know and I’m sorry. But the way I feel about you isn’t a lie.”
Her eyes got big. Was that a good sign?
“How do you feel about me?”
