“Fuck,” Marcus spat, dropping my hand and standing up. He started pacing again. I could see the frustration and anger warring inside his head.
“Stop,” I said, hoping to sound less terrified than I felt.
He did, looking down at me, face softening a bit. “It’s okay, Liv. I’ll figure something out.”
I took a deep breath and stood up, reaching for him. Gripping his massive hands in mine, I blurted out what needed to be said. “I can do it, Marcus.”
“Do what?”
I rolled my eyes. Anxiety gnawed at my insides, but underneath there was another, stranger feeling. A thrill at being part of something so dangerous, so exciting. “Go to my office to get the information we need about the informant,” I said, my voice wavering just a touch. “I’m the best person — no — the only person who can do it.”
Marcus glowered at me, and I suddenly understood why people tended to bow to his will. His eyes narrowed. “No fucking way, Olivia. It’s too goddamn dangerous. For a lot of reasons. What about law school? How’s that going to ever happen if you get caught doing this?”
“Marcus,” I pleaded, trying to sound more confident than I felt, “what other choice do we have? I have authorization to go in the building while the office is closed. I know my way around, have access to the file room and the servers, and if anyone sees me, it’s fine because I work there. I can get in, look at the documents and leave without taking anything. Simple and easy.”
His jaw clenched, muscles rippling as he crossed his arms. I could see the gears turning in his head, trying desperately to find another solution. But we both knew there wasn’t one.
Marcus looked like a caged animal, fighting a futile battle. “Shit. It should be safe enough,” he finally conceded. He cupped my face in his hands. “But I’ll be right there beside you the whole time.”
“Deal,” I replied with a smile. The warmth of his touch both calmed and inflamed me.
“Wait a minute,” Benjamin interjected, his voice cutting through the intense moment between Marcus and me. “Marcus can’t go with you, Olivia. It’s too risky.” His eyes flickered between us, concern etched on his usually stoic face.
Marcus’s grip on me tightened as he spoke. “You don’t think I can protect Olivia?”
“Of course I do. That’s not my point,” Benjamin replied, raising his hands in a calming gesture. “But think about this. Marcus’s name could be in those files. He’s a known criminal. If you two are seen together in your office, you’ll both be in a world of trouble.”
“Damn it, Benjamin!” Marcus snapped, but I could see in his furious gaze that he knew Benjamin was right.
“Marcus…” I whispered, my heart pounding at the thought of defying him. “Benjamin is right. You can’t come with me.”
He gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with anger and something else – fear, perhaps, for my safety. “I know,” he said finally, “but I can’t let you do this alone.”
“Going into the empty office of the law firm I work for is actually very safe,” I argued, trying to convince both Marcus and myself. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Olivia, you should know by now that things rarely go according to plan,” he retorted, his voice heavy with bitterness. “I’m not discussing this any further. You’re only sneaking into the office if you’re accompanied by someone I trust with my life—and now yours.”
As much as I hated to admit it, Marcus was right. Things rarely went according to plan lately. But I’d do anything for him, even if it meant putting my own life on the line. And this was my first chance to really do something for him, put myself on the line to show Marcus how much he mattered to me. I was going in, one way or another.
Marcus wasted no time pulling out his cell phone. He called Tommy and through a gruff shorthand only friends who’ve known each other forever can use, updated him on the situation with Ware, my firm, and the plan to sneak into the office.
I bit my lip and fidgeted with the hem of my shirt while they spoke, remembering that Marcus was still in the dark about my previous encounter with Tommy. Maybe this wasn’t the right moment to tell him, but at least I felt some relief knowing I’d be sneaking into the office accompanied by someone familiar.
“Okay, sounds good, Tommy,” Marcus concluded, his voice tense with suppressed anxiety. “Keep her safe. She’s everything to me.” He snapped his phone shut and turned to face me, his green eyes searching mine for any sign of doubt or fear.
“Olivia, you can still change your mind,” he said softly, sitting down next to me and placing a warm, protective hand on my knee.
“Marcus, I’ll be careful,” I reassured him, trying to keep my voice steady. “And… I’m happy to help you, for once.”
He leaned in and pressed his lips against mine, his kiss tasting of passion and desperation. “Just promise me you’ll be careful,” he whispered against my mouth.
“Promise,” I breathed, losing myself in the intensity of his gaze.
A loud, deliberate throat-clearing sound startled us apart. Benjamin stood by the door, an awkward expression on his face. “I’ll leave you two alone then,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I’ll send any other information we get.”
“Thanks, Benjamin,” Marcus muttered, his eyes never leaving mine.
The door closed behind him, but it didn’t matter. Marcus and I were already tangled in each other’s arms once more, our kisses hungry and urgent. It was as if we were swallowing our fears about the upcoming mission, using our connection to steady and reassure one another.
*
Much later that night, I stood outside Palmer, Foster, Bennett & Associates, my heart pounding in my chest. Dressed in all black, I glanced at Tommy, who had a reassuring but focused expression on his face. The downtown high-rise office loomed above us like an ominous monolith, its glass and steel façade reflecting the city lights.
“Ready?” Tommy asked, his voice low and steady.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
We entered the building, our footsteps echoing eerily as they met the cold marble floor of the spacious lobby.
The night guard barely glanced up from his phone screen.
“Hiya, Pete,” I said sunnily, cringing at how fake it must have sounded.
“Oh,” he said, finally looking at me. “Assistant, right?”
Through gritted teeth, I replied, “Yes. Just gotta grab a couple of things. Gearing up for the partners to return, you know?”
“Uh-huh, whatever. Elevator three is down. Use one of the others.”
“Thanks.”
As we approached the bank of elevators, Tommy chuckled softly. “Nice security.”
“Right? They have cameras and sensors, but I’m pretty sure Pete would let an army of drunk elephants in as long as he didn’t have to stand up.”
I swiped my security badge, granting us access to the elevator, and then pressed the button for the floor housing the firm’s offices. As the elevator ascended, I found myself gripping the handrail tightly, my hands trembling.
“Almost there,” Tommy said, offering me a small smile.
“Right,” I said, nodding and taking another deep breath. It was trite advice, but it worked.
When the elevator doors opened onto the dark, empty offices, I hesitated for a moment before stepping out, feeling like an intruder in my own workplace. We made our way through the deserted halls, lights flaring bright as we activated the motion sensors, stopping at the locked records room. With my hands shaking, I scanned my badge, barely hearing Tommy’s whispered words of encouragement.
“Nice job, Olivia,” he said softly as the door unlocked with a satisfying click.
Inside the room filled with filing cabinets and servers, Tommy positioned himself by the entrance while I hurriedly began searching the computer files. My phone buzzed with an incoming call, and I answered it on speaker mode.
“Hey, Azalea,” I whispered. “I’m in.”
“Awesome,” she replied, her voice confident yet hushed. “Let’s get this done.”
Following Azalea’s guidance, I navigated through the digital labyrinth of files and folders. My heart sank as I realized that the computer servers only held references to paper files — no actual information. “Shit,” I muttered under my breath.
“What’s wrong?” Tommy asked, his brow furrowing with concern.
“Nothing we can’t handle,” I reassured him, trying to sound more optimistic than I felt. “We just have to search the old-fashioned way.”
With time slipping away, I frantically searched through the file cabinets, my hands shaking as I flipped through countless folders. Finally, I located the case we needed. But as I scanned the pages, my heart dropped – there was no mention of Jonathan Ware at all. Instead, the confidential informant named in the files was someone I’d never even heard of: Rick Logan.
“Who the hell is Rick Logan?” I whispered into the phone, my frustration mounting.
“No clue,” Azalea admitted, her tone echoing my own disappointment.
“Same here,” Tommy added, his eyes narrowing in confusion.
“Well, maybe Marcus knows who he is. Let’s go find out,” I said, determination seeping back into my voice.
I was still feeling anxious until I slid into Tommy’s car, the leather seat cool and slick against my skin. As he pulled away from the building, I felt relieved and frustration. It was great to be able to get the information, and it seemed Jonathan Ware was in the clear, but we’d lost our best lead to identifying Marcus’s enemy.
“You did great, Olivia,” Tommy said, his voice low and steady as he navigated through the deserted streets.
“Thanks. I just wish there was something more helpful.”
I reached for my phone, fingers trembling slightly as I dialed Marcus’s number. He answered on the first ring, as if he’d been waiting for my call.
“Olivia, Azalea said you got in and out safely. Did you find anything?” His deep voice filled my ears, concern lacing every word.
“Marcus, there’s no mention of Ware in the files. The informant is someone named Rick Logan,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Rick Logan?” Marcus repeated, a hint of surprise coloring his tone. “Who is he?”
“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “But if he’s a total stranger, then at least we know you’re not a target of that investigation.”
“True. Thank you, Olivia. I’m proud of you,” Marcus said warmly, his words wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. “You’d make a great criminal.”
The corner of my mouth lifted in a half-smile, even as my heart skipped a beat. “Careful, Marcus. You might just turn me.”
“Wouldn’t be the worst thing,” he teased lightly, the mood shifting between us.
Tommy glanced at me, one eyebrow raised in amusement. I shrugged innocently, a flicker of excitement sparking within me. There was something strangely thrilling about being a part of Marcus’s world, even if it was only temporary.
“Get back here safe, Olivia,” Marcus said, his voice firm but tender. “I’ll be waiting. We’ll figure out our next steps.”
“Of course,” I replied, my chest tightening with both anticipation and anxiety. “On to the next thing.”