Page 7 of The True Garza

“Fake girlfriend?”

“Yeah.” He scribbles something on a notepad, rips the page off, and hands it to me. “If you’re in, go here in an hour for a meeting with True Garza and Sacha Allard. They’ll explain the rest.”

I take the paper and skim the address. “Who are they?”

“Red Cage assholes,” he grumbles. “You will be working closely together, so consider them your temporary partners on this. We’re keeping this one on the down low, so if you accept the contract, don’t come to the office, and discuss this case withno oneoutside of who is currently in this room.”

Those are standard rules on all my contracts. Hence, they’reprivate. So I don’t know why he’s stressing that. Unless…“You’ve got a mole?”

He sighs heavily. “Sadly, yes. We haven’t found who it is yet.”

“Ah,that’swhy the Bureau wants meanda third-party organization,” I say with a smile. “They don’t trust you all.”

“Pretty much.”

Charles comments, “It’s a sad day when RCI’s more trusted than LX-BI.”

“I don’t know why we’re pretending, though,” I say lazily. “We all know who the mole is.”

“Who?” Uncle Walter asks.

“This snake right here.” I stand and turn to face my brother with a smirk. “They’re probably bribing him with a year’s supply of hair gel.”

Charles lunges at me, but I dodge him. “You little—”

“Cut it out, both of you,” Uncle Walter snaps. “Why do you two always resort to acting like teenagers when you’re around each other? Jesus.”

Brady chuckles behind his fist.

“Lonny, are you on board?”

As if I have a choice at this point. But I’m just going to let him think he’s got me where he wants me for now. “Send the contract. I’m gonna go to this meeting and get an ear on the plan. And if I like what I see in the contract, I’ll let you know.”

“Good.” He nods, pleased. “I’ll need a brief after your meeting with RCI. I also expect daily reports. For urgencies, get in touch with me, Charles, or Brady.”

“Got it.” I loop my right arm around Brady’s thick bicep and open the door with my left. “Come on, Brady Bunch. Catch me up on all I’ve missed. Tell me all about the barbies my brother’s been paying to like him.”

As Brady and I leave the room, I hear Charles curse, “For the love of—what were you thinking bringing her back, Uncle? She’s amenace.”

Uncle Walter’s hearty laugh follows us out. “I was thinking family belongs with family. You missed her. We all did.”

CHAPTER Four

“Wasn’t me, babe.”

Lonny

I flip my car keysand stare up at the matte-black edifice with large red letters stretched across it:

RED CAGE

Commando Security & Investigation Services Ltd.

The branch in Denver isn’t nearly as imposing as this one.

I hit the small silver button on the panel and gaze at my reflection in the one-way-mirror-tinted glass door as I wait.

The door buzzes open seconds later, and a burly guard allows me in. Much appreciated cool air-conditioning licks at my skin, while the subtle scent of aloe and white tea flirts with my olfactory nerve.