Page 54 of His Forbidden Alliance

Rafe scowled at me as he threw a file down on the desk. Apparently, I’d hit a nerve. “I am way more than people give me credit for.”

I held up my hands. “I figured that out last night.”

He laughed, but there was no humor in it. “You’ll find out a hell of a lot more if you cross me.”

“I’m here because I want to work together, because we’re going to bring down Ivanov and what’s left of his fucking organization.”

Rafe nodded. “Fuck right we are. I can’t use the people I normally would because I would have to tell my family I’m working with a fucking G-man, and I only know his first name.”

“You don’t need to know any more.”

“So you know me, my family history, every crime we’ve been accused of, but I get nothing.”

“You already know enough to put me in danger.”

“You were in danger the moment you stepped foot in my casino with these plans in your head.”

“I know. I’ve taken a big risk and ignored advice, and you’ve done the same now. We’re in this together. So what have you got?” I moved around his desk and flipped one of the files open.

Anger sparked in his eyes, and he snatched it from me. “We need to establish how this is going to work.”

“We’re going to find a suspect, and we’re going to interrogate them, maybe use a little torture, maybe kill them afterwards. Isn’t that the usual MO?”

Rafe rolled his eyes. “This isn’t a fucking movie.”

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

He huffed. “I’ve got a list of employees. I need to look into more. But the details are mine to know. You get names and assignments, that’s all.”

“You don’t want me looking into the casino’s finances?”

He huffed. “I don’t want you here at all.”

“Really. You seem to enjoy having me there last night.”

“If this mission wasn’t hanging over my head, I would’ve spent the rest of the night using you up, then spitting you out, and sending you on your way.”

“Is that what you do with all your hookups? Is that why you’re rarely with anyone twice?”

“That’s none of your fucking business.”

“The back of your throat was my business.”

Rafe came after me, wrapped a hand around my throat, and pushed my head against the chair. “Shut the fuck up. Either we’re working on this together, or you’re a dead man.”

“We can’t part ways amicably?”

“You knew better than that before you suggested this. Once you’re in, you’re in. And if you fuck up, you’re dead.”

“I could say the same goes for you.”

He shook his head. “You know that’s not how it works.”

“Yeah, yeah. Your family will run to your rescue. They’ll kill me, and it won’t matter.”

“Exactly.”

I smiled. “At least you’re not denying it.”