Undercover Heat

Chapter 10: Help Me

POV: Reece

It wasn't until I agreed to meet Joseph at Wide, a cafe close to his place, that I panicked. Father could have some tracking software on my phone. As I dress, I think about leaving my phone at home. Yes, I think I will do that. We can meet there and go somewhere else.

I leave my bedroom and silently walk to the steps. I stop.

Although I know of Joseph, he's still a stranger. So someone must know where I'm going just in case I go missing or something terrible happens to me.

I knock on Alex's door.

"What?" Alex says after opening her door.

"I'm going out," I tell her, "to the Wide. Of course, I don't anticipate anything happening, but with Father's work, I want to be safe."

Alex rolls her eyes. "No one wants you, Reece."

I frown. After looking down, I nod. 'I'm trying to do the right thing, Alex.'

I sigh. "I want you to know."

As I turn towards the stairs, Alex rushes into the hallway. She asks, "You're meeting with Kimberly?"

"No," I say without thinking, then I nod. "Why?"

Alex shrugs. Slowly, she smiles and looks to the left. She comments, "Hey, I did a job with that hot guy named Joseph. I'm sure he's into you."

I can feel my face getting redder as I look away. When I backed away, "Of course not."

***

Joseph slides into the passenger side of my car. His cologne fills the air, causing me to take a deep breath. I stare at his profile. Damn, he's f*cking hot.

He looks at me, running his fingers through his blonde hair. "I look presentable."

I laugh and start the car.

"Wide is a block away," he tells me.

"That's where we're going," I respond, pulling into traffic.

"Walking short distances is a good thing, you know," he jokes with a laugh.

***

It's pitch dark outside and Joseph and I exit Wide after grabbing coffees. I convince him that we should go somewhere else without telling him the truth; I don't want Father to find us.

I see it's a bad idea when Joseph's behavior changes. He acts like he's in security guard mode, looking around with a permanent scowl on his face. After we walk through a group of people walking towards us, I move to his left, next to the street.

Joseph grabs my arm and pulls me to his right side, away from the street.

"Tell me about this friend," he says as we stop at the crosswalk.

"She needs to know how to get out of a mafia family. The head of the family treats her like a prisoner--constantly having her followed, etc. How does she get out?"

Joseph places his palm on my lower back and guides me toward a restaurant. "Have you eaten yet?"

I stop and look at him. "She's scared."

He takes a deep breath and sounds aggravated, "I don't know why you think I can help her."

"You got away."

Joseph frowns. Quickly, his frown turns stormy. "What do you know about me?"

What do I know? If I tell the truth, I risk losing my chance at freedom. Maybe I should lie.

I press my lips together.

Joseph tosses his coffee into the trash a couple of feet away from us. "Let's go."

"No," I breathlessly tell him.

He backs away from me.

"Wait." I reach out to him without touching his arm. Tears clog my throat as I try to continue.

"I don't know what you're trying to do, but I can't afford to play along." He gruffly says. He motions to me, "Let's go."

"I'm not," I tell him, "I won't." Then, when he turns, I rush in front of him.

I stare at him and slowly tell him, "I know who you are. I don't know why you're working for Father, and I don't care. I need your help."

Joseph shoves his hands in his jean pockets. "My name is Joseph Anderson. I've got a wrap sheet as tall as you are--"

"Your father is Dean Anders. He's the head of the Salt Family. Now help me."

People walk around us.

Joseph frantically looks around and places his hand on the small of my back.

We don't talk as we walk across the street. Although I want to ask where we're going, I don't. We don't stop walking until we're at my car. He motions to give him the keys.

Reluctantly, I hand them over, and he opens the passenger's side door. I get into the passenger's seat, wondering if I did the right thing.

Joseph gets in the driver's side and adjusts the seat before glancing at me and shaking his head. He drives around for ten minutes.

I clear my throat and swallow hard. Nerves get the best of me as I watch his profile. Joseph looks lost in thought. However, he also looks pissed too.

"Are you circling to figure out a place to dump my body?"

"You're right," he tells me, "you're not clairvoyant."

There's a long pause.

"How do you know Dean's my father?"

"I've met him." I look away. "He talks about you often."

Joseph exhales and mutters a curse word.

"What else do you know, Reece?"

I stare out the window. "You left."

"That's it?" He slows the car to a red light and stares at me.

"That's it." I stare back.

I get caught up in his stare. He studies me, squinting his eyes as if he's searching my mind and soul. Then, slowly, his expression softens. He rubs his chin.

Joseph's eyes narrow, and his gaze dips lower.

"You're Canyon's daughter, huh?"

"What gave that away?" I tried to joke.

A driver honks their horn.

Joseph slowly looks at the road and starts driving. He waves his right hand before he places it on the steering wheel.

"What if I told you I can't help you," he inquires, "what are you going to tell your father?"

As I glance at him, I laugh, sounding defensive, "I'm not spiteful. I'll get out."

Joseph turns the car onto his street and parks across from his apartment. His stare lingers on my lips, making me bite my bottom lip.

"I never knew Dean was a major player in the mafia game," he explains, now staring ahead. "That fact made it easy for me to get away. But, for you, I..."

I lean forward, hanging onto his every word.

He shakes his head. "I'm here to do a job."

I lean back.

Joseph taps the steering wheel. He groans as if he's mentally wrestling with something. After a long time, he says, "I spent time-- a lot of time--trying to figure out a way to leave."

"How did you accomplish it?"

He looks at me. "I worked at his furniture store and acted like I wanted to take over the company. Then, after he trusted me, I took cash, went on a business trip and never returned."

"That's what I'm going to do then?" I smile, feeling more confident.

He shakes his head. "That will get you killed."

"Father loves me." I laugh. "He'd never kill me."

"You know too much," Joseph sounds serious when he says, "He's probably appeased you by giving you what you want. If you leave..."

I stop listening to him and look past him. I squint, trying to see the person coming from his apartment building.

"Do you have a job to do with Eddie?"

Joseph glances back. "No. Why?"

I frown. Is that Alex coming from Joseph's apartment building?

Joseph touches my arm, causing me to make eye contact with him. "Are you alright?"

I look at Alex disappearing around the corner. When I look back at Joseph, he's shaking his head.

“Reece, I'm sorry, but I can't help you. There's too much at stake."