Deadly Devotion

Chapter Fourteen: External Threats

Two months into our secret arrangement, and I was falling deeper every day.

We still maintained the facade during work hours. Professional emails. Gallery meetings. Discussions about opening night plans.

But at night, we belonged to each other completely.

He had a key to my apartment now. I had one to his. We'd alternate locations. Sometimes my place, sometimes his, sometimes the gallery after hours when we couldn't wait.

The s*x was still intense. Desperate. But it had also become tender. Intimate in ways that went beyond physical.

We'd broken our own rules. Talked about feelings. About the past. About everything that had happened between us.

We still hadn't figured out how to move forward. But we'd at least stopped pretending we didn't love each other.

It wasn't a relationship. Not really. But it was something.

And that something was about to get very complicated.

I was at my apartment on a Tuesday evening when my phone rang. Unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Mia Santos?" A woman's voice. Professional. Cold.

"Yes?"

"This is Agent Jennifer Warren. I'm with the FBI's Internal Affairs division. We need to schedule a meeting. Tomorrow. Ten AM at the field office."

My stomach dropped. "What's this about?"

"Your conduct during the DeLuca investigation. There are some questions that need answering."

"I was already fired. What more do you want?"

"Just answer the questions tomorrow. Don't be late."

She hung up.

I sat staring at my phone. Internal Affairs. This was bad.

They were investigating my conduct. Which meant they probably knew about the evidence I'd destroyed. About Isabella giving me information that I'd burned.

This could mean criminal charges. Obstruction of justice. Aiding and abetting.

I could go to prison.

My phone buzzed. A text from Dante.

Dante: Coming over in an hour. Want dinner first or should I just bring wine?

I stared at the message. Should I tell him? About the FBI investigation? About the fact that my past was coming back to haunt us?

Me: Just wine. We need to talk.

Dante: That sounds ominous.

Me: It is.

When Dante arrived, I was pacing my apartment.

He took one look at me and his expression shifted to concern.

"What happened?"

"FBI Internal Affairs called. They want to interview me tomorrow. About my conduct during the investigation."

He went very still. "What specifically?"

"They didn't say. But I'm guessing they know about the evidence your mother gave me. The evidence I destroyed."

"Fuck." He ran a hand through his hair. "Can they prosecute you for that?"

"Possibly. Obstruction at minimum. Maybe more depending on what they think I did."

"What did you tell them?"

"Nothing yet. The interview is tomorrow."

He started pacing now too. "Okay. We need a lawyer. A good one. Someone who specializes in federal cases."

"Dante, I can't afford that kind of lawyer."

"I can. I'll pay for it."

"No. You can't be connected to this. If it comes out that you're paying for my legal defense, it'll make everything worse."

"I don't care."

"I do. You've already done enough. Hiring me. Giving me this job. If the FBI finds out we're..." I gestured between us. "Whatever we are. They'll use it against both of us."

He stopped pacing. Looked at me. "What are we, Mia? Because I don't know anymore."

"I don't know either. But we're something. And that something could destroy you if it comes out."

"Let it come out then. I'm tired of hiding. Tired of pretending I don't care about you in front of everyone."

"Dante..."

"I mean it. If they want to investigate you, fine. But you're not facing this alone. I'm getting you a lawyer. End of discussion."

The fierceness in his voice made my chest tight. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because you're mine. Because I love you. Because I'm not letting you go to prison for protecting my family."

"I chose to destroy that evidence. That's on me."

"You chose it because of me. Because you loved me. That makes it my responsibility too."

He pulled out his phone, started making calls. Within twenty minutes, he had a lawyer lined up. The best federal defense attorney in New York. Meeting with me at nine tomorrow morning, an hour before the FBI interview.

"Michael Barrett," Dante said when he hung up. "He's expensive but he's the best. He'll prep you for the interview. Make sure you don't say anything that can be used against you."

"I can't let you pay for this."

"Too late. It's already arranged." He came to me, pulled me into his arms. "Let me help you. Please."

I held onto him. "What if this destroys everything? What if they find out about us and it makes everything worse?"

"Then we deal with it. Together."

"You keep saying that. Together. Like we're actually together."

"Aren't we?"

I pulled back to look at him. "I don't know. Are we? Because two months ago you said this was just s*x. Just physical. Nothing more."

"I lied. It's never been just physical. Not from the start." His hands cupped my face. "I'm in love with you, Mia. I never stopped. Even when I hated you, I loved you. And I'm tired of pretending I don't."

"What does that mean for us?"

"I don't know. But I know I don't want to hide anymore. Don't want to pretend you're just my employee. Don't want to sneak around like what we have is shameful."

"Your family will never accept me."

"My family will deal with it. Marco already knows. My mother suspects. My father..." He hesitated. "My father is harder to read. But I don't care. You're who I want."

"Even after everything?"

"Even after everything."

He kissed me then. Deep and claiming and full of everything he'd been holding back.

I kissed him back just as desperately.

We made it to the bedroom this time. Barely.

He laid me on the bed, his hands already working on my clothes. I pulled at his shirt, buttons scattering as I ripped it open.

"Impatient," he said with a hint of a smile.

"I need you. Now."

He pulled my skirt down, took my underwear with it. Spread my legs and just looked at me for a moment.

"So beautiful. So perfect. Mine."

Then he lowered his head. Instead of the usual slow build, he went straight for it. His tongue pushed inside my p***y, licking deep, tasting everything.

"Oh god," I gasped.

He pulled back just enough to speak. "I love how you taste. Could do this for hours."

Then his mouth was on my c**t, sucking hard while two fingers pushed inside me. The combination was overwhelming.

"Dante, I'm already close."

"Good. Come on my face. Let me taste it."

He curled his fingers, hitting that perfect spot while his tongue worked my c**t. The orgasm slammed into me. I came hard, my p***y clenching around his fingers, wetness flooding his mouth.

He licked up every drop, making satisfied sounds that drove me crazy.

Before I could recover, he was over me. His c**k pressed against my entrance.

"Need to be inside you," he said.

"Yes. Please."

He pushed in slowly this time. Inch by inch. Making me feel every bit of him.

When he was fully seated, we both groaned.

"I love you," he said, looking into my eyes.

"I love you too."

He started moving. Slow, deep thrusts. Not the desperate f*****g we'd been doing. This was different. This was making love.

His hands were everywhere. On my breasts, squeezing gently. On my waist. In my hair. Like he was trying to touch all of me at once.

"You feel so good," he murmured. "So tight. So perfect. Like you were made for me."

"I was. I'm yours."

"Say it again."

"I'm yours, Dante. Only yours. Always."

He increased his pace. Still not rough, but more intense. Building the pressure steadily.

I wrapped my legs around him, taking him deeper. One of my hands went between us, found my c**t.

"That's it," he said. "Touch yourself. I want to feel you come around my cock."

I circled my c**t, the pressure building fast.

"Look at me," he said. "Eyes on me when you come."

I met his gaze. The intensity in his eyes made me feel seen. Completely, utterly seen.

"I'm close," I whispered.

"Me too. Come with me. Together."

A few more thrusts and we both fell over the edge. My p***y clenched around him as pleasure washed through me. He followed immediately, his c**k pulsing inside me as he came.

We stayed like that for a long moment. Connected. Breathing hard. Just holding each other.

When he finally pulled out, he rolled to his side and pulled me against him.

"Whatever happens tomorrow," he said quietly. "Whatever the FBI says or does. We face it together. Okay?"

"Okay."

"I'm not losing you again. I can't."

"You won't. I promise."

We fell asleep wrapped around each other. For the first time in months, I slept without nightmares.

The next morning, I met with Michael Barrett at his office.

He was exactly what I expected. Early fifties, expensive suit, sharp eyes that missed nothing.

"Tell me everything," he said. "Leave nothing out."

I did. The undercover operation. Falling in love with Dante. The evidence I'd gathered and destroyed. All of it.

He listened without interrupting. Took notes. When I finished, he sat back.

"This is messy," he said bluntly. "You destroyed evidence. That's obstruction. You were in a relationship with your target. That's a massive conflict of interest. And you lied about it to your superiors."

"I know."

"But you were also fired before you destroyed the evidence. Which means you weren't acting as an agent at the time. That helps."

"How much does it help?"

"Depends on what they can prove. And what they're really after." He looked at me directly. "Do you think this is about prosecuting you? Or about pressuring you to cooperate against the DeLuca family?"

I hadn't thought of that. "You think they want me to inform again?"

"It's possible. You have access. You're close to Dante DeLuca. You could be useful to them."

My stomach turned. "I won't do that."

"Then you need to be very careful in this interview. Don't volunteer information. Answer only what's asked. And if they offer you a deal, don't take it without calling me first."

An hour later, I walked into the FBI field office with Michael beside me.

Agent Warren was waiting in an interview room. Along with someone I recognized.

Chen.

My former handler looked at me with undisguised contempt.

"Agent Santos. Or should I say Ms. Santos now that you're no longer with the Bureau."

"What's this about?" Michael asked before I could respond.

"Ms. Santos destroyed evidence during a federal investigation. That's a crime. We're giving her the opportunity to explain herself before we proceed with charges."

"My client was not an active agent at the time the alleged destruction occurred. She had already been terminated."

"She was still bound by her oath. Still obligated to protect evidence. Still subject to federal law." Agent Warren pulled out a file. "We have witness statements that Isabella DeLuca gave you documents. Information about the family's relocated operations. And you destroyed it all."

"Who's the witness?" Michael asked.

"That's classified."

"Then you don't have a case. Hearsay isn't evidence."

"We have more than hearsay. We have Ms. Santos's own partner confirming the meeting with Isabella DeLuca."

Chen. She'd been watching me. Surveilling me even after I was fired.

"So what do you want?" I asked.

Agent Warren leaned forward. "We want you to go back. Get close to the DeLuca family again. Gather the information we lost. Help us rebuild the case."

There it was. They didn't want to prosecute me. They wanted to use me.

"No," I said.

"You don't have a choice. Either you cooperate or we charge you with obstruction. You'll go to prison."

"Then I'll go to prison."

"Mia," Chen said. "Don't be stupid. This is your chance to make things right. To get justice for Brian."

"Don't you dare use Brian against me. Not again."

"He died investigating these people. And you're protecting them."

"I'm protecting the man I love. There's a difference."

"You're sleeping with Dante DeLuca again," Agent Warren said. "We know. We've been watching."

My blood went cold. "You've been surveilling me?"

"You're a person of interest in an ongoing investigation. Of course we're watching you."

Michael stood up. "This interview is over. You're threatening my client with prosecution to force her into an undercover operation. That's coercion. And any evidence gathered would be inadmissible."

"She won't need to gather evidence officially. Just information. Things she happens to learn while in a relationship with the target."

"Absolutely not," Michael said. "Ms. Santos is done cooperating. If you want to charge her, charge her. Otherwise, we're leaving."

He gestured for me to stand.

"You're making a mistake," Agent Warren said. "The DeLuca family is dangerous. They've killed people. They'll kill again. And you're helping them get away with it."

I stopped at the door. Looked back at her.

"I know what they are. I know what they've done. But I also know that forcing me to betray someone I love to avoid prison is wrong. So charge me or don't. But I'm done being your informant."

We left.

Outside the building, Michael turned to me.

"They'll probably charge you. You need to prepare for that."

"I know."

"Dante DeLuca knows the risks?"

"He knows."

"And he's still willing to be with you? Even knowing it could bring more heat on his family?"

"Apparently."

Michael smiled slightly. "Must be some relationship."

"It's complicated."

"Aren't they all." He handed me his card. "Call me if they contact you again. And be careful. The FBI doesn't give up easily."

I called Dante the moment I left.

"How did it go?"

"They want me to inform. To go undercover again. I said no."

Silence. Then, "They're going to charge you."

"Probably."

"We'll fight it. Michael's the best. We'll fight it and win."

"Dante, this is going to bring attention to you. To your family. The FBI will be watching closer now."

"I don't care."

"You should. I'm not worth destroying everything you've built."

"Yes you are. To me, you're worth everything."

My eyes filled with tears. "I love you."

"I love you too. Come home. Let me hold you."

"Your place or mine?"

"Ours. Come to our place."

Our place. Not his apartment. Ours.

"I'll be there in twenty minutes."

When I arrived, he was waiting at the door. Pulled me into his arms the moment I walked in.

"We're going to be okay," he said. "Whatever happens, we'll be okay."

I wanted to believe him.

But I knew the truth. The FBI wouldn't give up. They'd find another way to pressure me. Another angle.

And eventually, I'd have to choose again.

Between the man I loved and doing what was right.

I just hoped this time, I'd make the choice I could live with.