He stopped long enough to glare at me. “Follow me.”
I trailed behind him and into a massive master suite where he threw open double closet doors. “Your wardrobe. There’s more in the dressers and chest. Everything is new and should fit perfectly. In the jewelry box on the dresser, you have watches, rings. Cufflinks. Everything you’ll need to fit in with their crowd.”
“Wow. Your informant was that specific.” I fingered the various suits. There was no doubt they came straight from an Italian tailor. All my size.
“You bet he was. After I used my charm. Outside in the garage is your choice of a Lamborghini Revuelto and a Ferrari Spider. Don’t get used to them and for fuck’s sake, don’t drive like you normally do.”
He tossed me two key fobs, lifting his eyebrows as he did.
Grinning, I shoved them into my pocket. “Hey, I’m a great driver.”
“Maybe for Montana. Not here in Miami.” He didn’t stop there, heading into the kitchen. “There’s a wine cellar right there and I took the liberty of stocking the pantry and fridge as well as the bar. You should have everything you need.”
I noticed the papers on the island. “Bank accounts, etc.?”
He nodded. “Yep. You’re a very wealthy man. Just remember your cover. While you’ve been to Miami several times before on business, which is the reason you know the city, with the expansion of business, you’ve recently moved down from New York. Please tell me you spent some time looking over and memorizing the information I gave you about Drake Cavanaugh.”
I gave him a dirty look. “What do I look like, some fucking amateur?”
With one eyebrow lifted, he allowed the weight of what I was about to do settle in. “You’re not an undercover officer. You don’t understand what might be required of you.”
“And you were when you became someone else in your previous job?”
His face clouded over. Before answering he jerked out two beers from the fridge. I was shocked he hadn’t gone for his signature whiskey. “I started with the police department in Atlanta. I made detective quickly. One day, my captain asked if I would consider going undercover since no one really knew my face. I did.”
“And?”
He took a long pull of his beer. What I’d learned over the years was that the stories and cases that haunted us also challenged our morals. They’d been dark times, scenarios that we all kept locked away. Too personal and too painful to relive.
“Eighteen months of being on the inside, of living an entirely different life in a different world where the rules no longer apply changes a man. There are things I did that I can never talk about. I learned a valuable lesson I’ll take to my grave. There is a line every man and woman will cross. When a good man becomes a bad man for the right reason. After that, everything is blurred.”
“I’m not going under for that long.”
Maverick snorted. “Remember what I told you about these people. They are cunning and can smell a cop from a mile away. That’s how they’ve maintained their anonymity for years. Even if you’re only under for weeks, you will be forced to challenge your moral code. My question to you is how far are you willing to go?”
The question was one I’d wrestled with more than once during the last few days of preparations. “As far as necessary.”
Maverick didn’t appear satisfied, but it wasn’t his call.
It was mine.
There were innocent women being tortured and possibly killed by those who considered themselves above the law. They’d soon learn every man had an expiration date.
“New identification that’s ironclad.” He pointed to an envelope. “There’s cash inside, bank and credit cards. Even business cards in case asked about your company. The contact information is live with people prepared to answer the phone and answer emails.”
“Raven Intel has thought of everything.”
Maverick studied me intently as he grabbed a cellphone. “Don’t take this lightly, Kendrick. If you’re made, it’s likely we won’t be able to assist you in time. Here’s a burner phone. Now, my informant has agreed to help, but only with an introduction. Luckily, his father’s company is based out of New York so the connection will seem natural. And no, I don’t have a clue who his father is. He’s going to make contact with the man in charge of the club. His name is Lucifer.”
I laughed as I took the phone from him. “As in the devil?”
“You got it. They all have catchy names, which are given when accepted. My contact’s name is Catcher. I don’t know why he was given that name and I don’t give a shit. He’ll let you know when the recommendation has been made via text. After that, there will be a meeting with an appointee sent by Lucifer and don’t take it lightly. The meeting is a test. If you fail, you won’t be offered a second chance. At that point, you’ll be on your own. Don’t burn my contact.”
“I have no intention of it.”
“Make note that Catcher mentioned they employ at least three dozen people if not more. Security. Bouncers. Likely assassins.Just remember, they will be watching you. Your mannerisms. How you handle the girls. You can’t look shocked or disgusted.”
“Yeah, I got it. Big bad dudes hired to keep the riffraff out.”
