Page 71 of Rogue

Or maybe this is what I’m telling myself at the moment. My job description reads simply: “member of task force sworn to secrecy and hired to prevent threats to national security.” Vague as hell, like Hayden himself.

Am I really ready to give up my life for a job? Yet what choice do I have? Besides, if he agrees to the necessary amendments . . .

“We have the same goal, you and I. Remember?” I say sweetly, and flash my new boss a faux grin.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Hayden signs my contract, then passes it back to me, along with a thick, letter-size envelope busting with what I think are bound hundred-dollar bills.

My hand shakes. From nervousness. From my excitement at having the means to pay Johns Hopkins up front, and in turn force away any reservations about offering Mama their precious miracle drug. Supply and demand . . . and I’m in a position to demand it. Hey, money talks, right?

The thought causes me to clutch the pen tighter and to firmly pen my signature by theX. Just like that, my life changes. For the better or for the worst, that remains to be seen.

Kylie Smith.

Private security contractor.

Mercenary.

“Now about our folders . . .” Francis prompts.

“If you ask me for a folder one more time, I’ll rip this contract up, then rip your throat out. Not necessarily in that order.” Hayden glares at him. “Practice having a little finesse. You’ve got the qualities of a great snitch. Except when you start yapping your trap and drawing unnecessary attention upon yourself. Don’t make me regret hiring you. There’s a hell of a lot more disciplined, capable men waiting for my call. But for this assignment, I’m taking a different approach. So you’re it. Don’t question me again. What I say is the law. Now get the fuck out.”

“But—”

“Go,” I cut the suicidal fool off. “I’ll fill you in . . . if I can.”

Hayden stands and Francis immediately sprints for the door.

“Take care working with him,muchacha. Something about him is off.”

“Did I ask for your opinion?” Hayden snaps.

“So we’ll work together? All five of us?” I interrupt, drawing our boss’s attention off of Diego.

“It’ll be you and Francis.”

I frown. Jaxson and I won’t be working together?

Hayden continues, “The two of you will accomplish what these three have failed to do. Establish yourselves inside DiCapitano’s organization.”

“Ay dios mio. You fuckin’ pulled us too soon,” Diego practically hisses, furious. “A little longer—”

“It was the wrong approach. A machismo like Franco likes to hire men within the family. Weaklings. Men he can dominate.” Hayden snorts. “You three will never get in close enough to learn anything of value.”

“She’s no weakling.”

“Thank you, Declan,” I reply, although he didn’t waste his words for my benefit but to argue his case. And Jaxson? He’s so bleeding silent. I wonder what he’s thinking but don’t dare cast a glance his way. Not under Hayden’s watchful eye.

“No, she’s no weakling. Which makes her the perfect person for the job. Smart. Beautiful. A local Franco is familiar with. If she can control that temper—”

“She’s right in the room,” I say, doing just that, reigning in my temper.

“Franco will be whispering sweet nothings in her ear. We need to work fast. Get a bigger picture of what Novák is up to before he makes a move and surprises us. His trips to Shelby are becoming more and more frequent. The timing is perfect. The sooner we know what he’s doing with the money the mob collects for him, the sooner we put an end to it . . . and him.”

I can feel them staring at me. But I’m too busy trying to wrap my head around what exactly I’m being asked to do. All that training, running obstacle courses, hand-to-hand combat, knives . . . and I’m assigned to do what he’d initially told me I’d do—whisper sweet nothings into the mobster’s head while he fills mine with information about the Pricks.

“You’ll do whatever is necessary to earn DiCapitano’s trust. Understand.”

Bite me. Give that slimy drug dealer a blow job? Not on your life. I’ll earn his trust—there’s got to be a better way.