Page 47 of His Forbidden Alliance

“I was convinced he was working with Ivanov. I assumed he was keeping an eye on Rafael, but I was wrong. It was personal, and I managed to save Rafael from a knife across the throat.”

Maria exhaled.

“Would you rather I let him die?”

“He’s a Theriot. Should I care?”

“He’s not—” I froze. I’d been about to say he wasn’t like the others. Fucking hell, what was happening to me? He was exactly like the others, but he felt so good when he gave in to me when he⁠—

“He’s not what?” Maria asked.

“He’s my connection, my way in. I need him alive. For now.”

“You fucking told him, didn’t you?”

How did she know? “I had to say something.”

“Right, and as a respected, veteran undercover agent, you couldn’t come up with anything but the truth.”

Heat filled my face. “I didn’t tell him the whole truth.” I paused, listening for the shower again. The water was still running. “I told him I worked for a government agency, and we made a deal.” So we hadn’t officially, but if Rafe tried to back away now, I was confident I could use my mouth to make him give in. “I won’t use anything I learn against him or his family, and he’ll work with me to find Ivanov’s link to the casino and bring the fucker down.”

“I told you not to bring Rafael in on this.”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“Convenient.”

I blew out a long breath. “I can handle this.”

“I should pull you now.”

“Don’t. You know how hard I’ve worked, and no one else could get this close.”

“And that’s the only reason you still have a job. Fuck, it’s probably the only reason you’re not in jail.” Before I could respond to her probably true statement, she continued. “What happened to the man who attacked Rafael?”

“He’s dead.”

Maria didn’t say anything, but I could hear her exhale.

“The Theriots took care of the body. They think Rafe—uh, Rafael killed him.”

“You killed a man, and then⁠—”

“He would have killed Rafe.”

“A mobster you know well enough to use his nickname.”

“Maria—”

“I don’t want any excuses. Tell me what happened next.”

“I followed Rafael back to his house.”

“Fucking hell. Why do you keep telling me you’re straight?”

“Because I⁠—”

“I asked for honesty. After what I put up with from you, I deserve honesty.”