Page 34 of Power
“Simone, wait up!”
Ah, dammit.
“Where’re you headed?” he asked.
“I’m meeting a client,” she lied.
“You know, I couldn’t understand why you left the Bureau,” he said. “It never made sense to me. You were an excellent agent.” He gestured to the building. “I assumed you’d make a career here. Wondered if you went undercover, but when I asked around, I was told you left.” He stepped close. “Did you move to ALPHA?”
What the hell?
Simone had a great poker face. “What’s ALPHA?”
The color from Peter’s face drained. “It’s nothing.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m late for a meeting. See you Friday.” He strode toward the entrance and vanished inside.
She had no idea he even knew about ALPHA, but he should never have asked her about that, especially in public.
What happened to having some damn discretion?
Her guts churned. She might not work for ALPHA, but her allegiance was still with that organization, if for no other reason than to protect its secrecy. She tossed her coffee into the trash, and hastened inside. Hirzog stood near the elevators talking to several people.
I gotta call this.
She exited the building, got Carrera on the phone. “Sorry, Peter Hirzog cornered me in the coffeeshop.”
“Lucky you.”
“Not a fan?”
“No,” Carrera replied.
“He thought I’d gone undercover, then asked if I’d joined ALPHA.”
“That’s not good,” Carrera said.
“Peter’s still in the lobby, so we’ll have to reschedule.”
Carrera pulled up beside her on the sidewalk. “I just got called to an offsite meeting.”
“Hey.” She hung up, extended her hand. “Good to see you.”
He shook it. “Slash has been asking about you. Come by tonight for dinner, and we’ll talk after.”
“I’d love to,” she replied. “Slash has wanted me to meet Elsa for a while now.”
A black Range Rover pulled up to the curb. The back door opened and Luciano exited. Hit- after-glorious-hit of adrenaline powered through her. His impeccable blue-gray suit accentuated his muscular form to perfection. His bulging biceps pressed against the sleeves, while his white dress shirt made his beautiful olive skin tone pop.
She gave him a once-over. Approved. Then, did it again.
A gust of wind blew his hair every which way, but he combed his fingers through it and it yielded to his touch.
Just like me.
“You got out. You never get out.” Carrera followed his cousin’s gaze, which was pinned on her.
Luciano’s muscles ticked in his chiseled jaw. “Simone.”
“Luciano,” she replied.
