Still, her mother had died, leaving Sophia all alone in the world.
Fate?
Karma?
Her soul’s final damnation.
“You look like you lost your best friend,” David said as he hovered over her desk.
“Just trying to finish the last details. You know how I am.” While the limited accolades had been okay given her takedown of not one but two men on the most wanted list, she wasn’t in the mood to celebrate. Her thoughts drifted to Wrath, the serene look on his face from taking a bullet in order to save her life.
And the ruthless brother…
Gabriel Constantino had been considered the heir apparent to Benedetto’s empire, the man many assumed would take his father’s position on the consortium. When Wrath had been given the nod, Gabriel had finally turned rogue on the Dark Haven, determined to take out his retaliation on his own brother. There was little else she’d been able to learn. While Gabriel’s death had caused a certain amount of notoriety, the news had quickly been squelched.
She could only imagine by whom.
“You did good, kid. You really did. What a shame the brothers couldn’t have killed each other. Hell, at least you were there for the cleanup. Good thing I showed up when I did, huh? Granted, I think the director still wants to ream you a new one for going undercover without authorization, but the end justifies the means. Right?”
David’s snicker pissed her the hell off. She’d had plenty of browbeating sessions as well, enough to help her realize she didn’t want to do this any longer. Thank God, Wrath’s shoulder injury was little more than a flesh wound and would heal. “Yeah, so glad you were in the neighborhood.” The fact David had been first on the scene had at least allowed her to collect her shit before being dragged into a full investigation.
A tiny red flag raised. How the fuck had David just been in the neighborhood unless he’d known her exact location? That would mean…
“Waters. In my office. Now!”
Hearing Director Montgomery’s booming voice calling from his office door made just about everyone in the office cringe. His mood swings had been even more brutal than before.
She pushed back her chair, giving David an evil glare. “I did good, huh? Then when is he going to stop barking?”
David shrugged and sipped his coffee.
Holding her head high, she walked past the rest of the team, realizing their eyes were following her all the way to the director’s door.
“Close it,” the director snapped after she was inside.
She did so softly and walked closer to his desk. “Yes, sir?”
He shook his head and sat back in his chair, folding his arms. “I’ve questioned everyone about your accusation of an informant.”
“And?”
“Very few people had access to the whereabouts of Stephen Wallace. Besides, there’s nothing to indicate that Wrath or this consortium really knew anything about our operation. The man lied to you, Waters. That’s what criminals do.”
Sophia knew when a perp was lying to her and Wrath had told her the truth, sharing aspects that she doubted he’d ever been able to do before. “There is a leak, Director, a mile wide. I just hope that someone else doesn’t have to get killed before he or she is found.”
Director Montgomery lifted an eyebrow. “So you’ve indicated. You do realize that your actions placed this entire department in harm’s way, let alone under a critical eye.”
“There is no way I could forget that, Director.”
“And by all rights you should be placed on suspension until this investigation has been concluded.”
She bit back a nasty retort. “Yes, sir.”
He exhaled, turning his attention to the window as he tapped his foot. “You’re one of the best agents I have, Waters. Whatever caused you to go off the grid you need to confront and this can never happen again.”
“No, sir. It won’t.”
“Fine.”
