UNDERCOVER TO MY HEART

CONFESSION'S IN THE DARK

Seven years of grief bled out on the wooden floor between them in a single second.

Bella stood frozen in the secret room, her light shaking as the beam illuminated dozens of photos of her own life pinned to the pine walls.

Why, Jack? Bella whispered, her voice cracking as she turned to face him in the doorway. You let me mourn a ghost for seven years while you hid in the trees and took pictures.

I had no choice, Bella, Jack said, stepping into the small room, his dark eyes desperate and raw. Xavier Knight came to my house the night before I disappeared. He laid a sniper photo of you on my kitchen table. He gave me twelve hours to fake my death and join his network, or his shooters were going to put a bullet in your head while you slept in your apartment.

You should have told me, Bella cried out, taking a fast step toward him. We could have fought them together. I was training for the bureau.

They owned half the local office back then, Jack yelled back, his fists clenching at his sides. If I breathed a word to you, you were dead. I had to die so you could live, Bella. Every single picture on that wall was me making sure his men were not following you to work. I built this cabin so I could stay close enough to take a bullet for you if his cartel ever found out who you were.

Bella stared up at his bruised, weary face, the rage inside her chest melting away into a wave of overwhelming pain and love. All those nights spent crying over an empty grave were built on a sacrifice she had never asked for, but one he had carried alone in the cold dark for seven long years.

You complete i***t, Bella breathed, dropping her flashlight onto the floor.

She lunged forward, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling his mouth down to hers with violent intensity. Jack gasped against her lips, his heavy arms instantly wrapping around her waist like iron bands, lifting her off her feet and pressing her back against the wooden wall. The years of built-up longing, constant fear, and raw adrenaline boiled over between them in an explosive, breathless rush.

I missed you so much, Jack groaned against her neck, his broad hands framing her face as he kissed her eyes, her cheeks, and her lips with desperate hunger. Every single day without you was hell, Bella.

Don't you ever leave me again, Bella whispered, her hands tearing through his thick hair, dragging him closer as they gave into the burning heat that had survived seven years of darkness.

Hours later, the quiet cabin was still except for the soft sound of rain tapping against the glass windows. Bella sat on the edge of the wooden desk in the main room, wearing an oversized flannel shirt, her laptop open in front of her. Jack stood behind her, a warm blanket draped over his shoulders as he watched the screen over her head.

I plugged Xavier's encrypted USB drive into my secure federal laptop, Bella said, her fingers moving rapidly across the keyboard as lines of code bypassed the simple cartel security wall. Marcus was right. This drive holds the master financial ledger for the entire northern coast operation.

Can you open the payout file? Jack asked, leaning down close to her ear.

It is opening now, Bella said, clicking the master folder.

A long spreadsheet filled with bank account numbers and offshore wire transfers filled the bright screen. Millions of dollars were routed through various shell companies, but one specific domestic account was flagged with monthly recurring payments of fifty thousand dollars.

Look at the recipient code, Jack pointed out, his jaw tightening. That is a federal agency routing tag.

Bella typed the routing number into her private bureau database, cross-referencing the internal badge registry. A confidential personnel file popped up on the monitor, complete with a official photograph and full security credentials.

Bella gasped, her blood running completely cold as she stared at the face on the screen.

It cannot be, Bella whispered, shaking her head in total disbelief.

Who is it? Jack asked softly.

Director Vance, Bella said, her voice trembling with shock and anger. My direct supervisor. He has been taking cartel money for five years. He was the one who leaked the transit route for the highway ambush. He wanted the shipment stolen so he could claim the insurance payout and wipe out the Iron Serpents in one move.

He sent us into that trap on the mountain, Jack growled, his hands clenching into tight fists. He knew we were on that road.

He is not trying to put you in prison, Jack, Bella said, turning her head to look at him with wide, terrified eyes. Vance locked you up so his hit squad could eliminate you before you could talk to internal affairs. He is the master mind behind the entire local network.

Then we take this drive straight to the federal prosecutor in the morning, Jack said, reaching down to close the laptop screen.

We will not make it to morning, Bella said quietly, her eyes catching a sudden flicker of light outside.

Headlights swept silently across the dark living room windows, slicing through the dusty air of the cabin.

Bella jumped off the desk, snapping her laptop shut and grabbing her sidearm from the wooden counter. Jack moved instantly to the window, pulling the heavy canvas curtain back half an inch to peer out into the dark pine forest.

Through the heavy rain, four black tactical SUVs with turned-off engines were idling silently in the clearing around the house. A dozen heavily armed men dressed in dark tactical gear were creeping through the trees, their weapons fitted with long suppressors aimed straight at the cabin doors.

Vance found us, Jack whispered, pulling his heavy iron pistol from his waistband and racking the slide with a sharp click.

They are surrounding the entire clearing, Bella said, ducking low as a laser sight beam danced across the far wall. We have nowhere to run.