Black Jack (Advantage Play #5) - Kelsie Rae Page 0,2

seat next to mine. “But if you turn yourself in, then it’ll also help clear your name. An innocent man wouldn’t have run.”

“But I am innocent.”

“We know that, but your buddies in the Bureau don’t.” Kingston leans back in his chair, studying me carefully as he clicks the ballpoint pen in his hand.

The bastard has a point. I replay that moment over and over again every night. If I hadn’t run. If I’d let them take me in for a crime I didn’t commit to prove I had nothing to hide. But if I had stayed and let them arrest me, I would’ve never made the deal with Dominic or the Romanos, which means I wouldn’t have anyone in my corner to help me build my case against my boss in the FBI, Reed.

Without their help, Reed would get away scot-free for being involved with one of the most powerful men in the human trafficking industry. Burlone. And I would’ve taken the fall all because of Reed’s fucking cell phone that was planted in my desk. Hell, I still might take the fall if Kingston’s ludicrous plan doesn’t work. And this is absolutely insane.

“And if I do turn myself in…,” I mutter, “what then? What’s the plan?”

“You trust us to follow through and catch Reed with his pants down,” Dex answers, scrolling through his phone like we’re discussing the weather instead of my precarious future.

“Yeah, but what if,”––I clear my throat––“what if Reed doesn’t agree to meet with Dominic after I’ve already turned myself in? I’d be screwed.”

With his elbows on his knees, D replies, “He’ll agree, Jack. Especially if we use Q as bait to lure him out.”

Q is D’s girl. She’s also the only innocent witness who can connect Reed with Burlone before he died. Because of this, Burlone kidnapped her and planned to sell Q as a sex slave before the Romano family rescued her and gave her a place to stay. That’s when she fell for Diece. The burly bear would do anything to keep her safe, which is why I’m so damn confused right now.

Convinced I’ve heard him wrong, I turn to him. “And you’re okay with that?”

“We won’t literally be using her. She’ll never be in the line of fire, and she won’t be documented in any of the conversations. But if she’s what he wants, then it’ll be enough to convince him to meet. We just need to dangle the carrot and all that shit.”

“Reed hasn’t been in contact with Dominic in weeks, though. Who’s to say Reed will even want to chat with him again?”

Dex explains, “Once you’re in custody, Reed will be more arrogant––”

“And more likely to slip up,” Lou interjects from across the room.

“Exactly.” Kingston nods his agreement. “And he wants Q out of the picture because she’s the only loose end that can connect him to Burlone.”

“Except for Dominic,” I point out.

“Which is why this plan will work. But we need you out of the picture too so that Reed will take the bait. And we need you to trust us. Think you can do that?”

Squeezing the back of my neck, I study the men surrounding me while praying I’m not about to make a huge mistake.

“I guess it looks like I have no choice.”

2

Bianca

“Get your hands off me,” I seethe. Stephan’s grip is gentle as he pushes me toward the front door of Kingston’s estate, but I dig in my heels for what feels like the thousandth time since he showed up on my doorstep.

I’m a Castello, and unless I’ve been invited to a party where weapons are checked in at the entrance, I’m not stupid enough to think this is going to be a pleasant visit. He can’t honestly think I’m that naive.

An annoyed Stephan drops his hands to his sides. “Will you just get in the damn house, Bianca? I’ve already told you that your brother asked me to bring you here.”

With a glare, I point out, “My brother’s been missing for weeks.”

“He’s been a little…preoccupied,” Stephan offers before tucking his hands into the front pockets of his slacks.

I scoff. “I’m sure he has. But you’ll have to excuse me if I’m not interested in joining him in Hell quite yet.”

I knew it was a bad idea to come to Dex’s gathering. Dominic’s been missing ever since. And even though my brother and I don’t exactly like each other, we’re family. He’s all I’ve got.

“He’s alive,” Stephan informs me with a nonchalance that grates on me.

Still.