Page 65 of The Tracker's Secret

Chapter 23

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“THAT’S A SCREWED-UPmess,” Rosalina said as I finished telling her what had happened. “You can’t get mixed up in that, Toni.”

I cringed inwardly at this. I’d been afraid she would say that, which made me realize I’d already made up my mind that Iwouldget involved.

“Yeah, it would be stupid,” I said, battling with myself, wanting both to convince herandto distract her mind so she wouldn’t guess my inclination.

Wake up, Toni! Nothing good can come out of lying to Rosalina.

She narrowed her green eyes and examined my face carefully, but a chime on her phone distracted her. She glanced at the screen.

“It’s Damien,” she said, excitement clear in her voice. “He wants to move our date plans for tonight. He says something has come up, and he can’t go tomorrow.” A smile spread across her glossy lips.

Knowing I shouldn’t, I took the opportunity to distract her further. “He can’t tomorrow? I don’t think that’s the reason. I bet he just can’t wait to see you.”

She brightened up. “You think?”

“Oh, I definitely think.”

I walked away to let her make plans, and as soon as I entered my office, I texted the number Ulfen had given me.

“I’ll do it,” I typed. “Please drop the item off in the mail slot after 5 PM.”

The reply came five minutes later. “Message received.”

I quickly put my phone away, feeling dirty, but I rationalized that if I told Rosalina now, I would spoil her date.

A quarter to five, we headed to her condo. As soon as we got there, she busied herself with picking an outfit, showering, and doing her makeup all over again. When she was done, she looked like a billion bucks. She wore a black strapless dress with a sparkly pattern in the shape of roses. Her dark hair fell in perfect locks around her tan, naked shoulder.

“Fancy,” I said. “Where are you two going?”

“Dinner at Vicia.”

“Wow! He’s bringing out the artillery.”

When her phone dinged, she grabbed her glittery clutch. “He’s waiting outside. See you later.”

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” I called in a singsong voice.

When the door closed behind her, I sat quietly for a moment, feeling like a rotten egg.

Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do? The worst thing to say considering my plans. I sighed, then went into my bedroom and changed into a comfortable pair of yoga pants, my old sneakers, a tank top, and a light jacket over it. I also packed a small duffel bag with a change of clothes.

“Here you go, buddy.” I dropped Cupid’s pellets in his bowl. He swam to the top and ate one but ignored the rest. “Oh, so we’re in one ofthosemoods, huh?”

I rushed out of the complex in my Camaro and snatched two lamb gyros and a large order of fries at a drive-through. I hadn’t had a proper lunch, and my stomach had been growling uncomfortably for the last couple of hours.

I parked the car around the block and hurried into the office keeping my head low. I didn’t want Jake showing up if he saw my car in front of the agency.

When I made it inside unnoticed, I found a yellow envelope lying on the floor. My hand trembled as I picked it up. It was small but heavy. I took my food and the envelope upstairs to the loft. I focused on my food first and placed the envelope aside on the dresser. I sat on the bed, slurping orange soda, and drowning my fries in ketchup. The gyros hit the spot, and my stomach finally quieted.