“Thanks, you can go,” she said, dropping her purse onto the kitchen table.

A sheet of paper fluttered to the floor.  She picked it up. It was a note from Charlie:

Hey sweets, I figure by now that hunk of burning love has gotten down on his knees and begged for forgiveness.  I hope you gave it to him; he’s a once in-a-lifetime guy if he managed to take his pride out of his dick.  If none of the above occurred, color me the worst best friend in the world.  Steven called hysterical because I hadn’t come back last night.  I calmed him down, but you know what a drama queen he is.  Shoot me a text if you need me to pick up any pieces and I’ll drag my queen north and we can eat popcorn in bed and watch our fave movie, To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, together. 

Xoxoxo

C

Izzy was grinning when Flynn came up behind her.

“Everything all right?”

“Peachy,” she said, crumbling the paper and tossing it into the trash can near the sink.  She turned around and leaned against the counter, acutely aware that it was the same exact place where just the morning before Flynn had given her a most amazing orgasm.  Damn, how had it all gone to crap in less than twenty-four hours?

Life challenged her on so many different fronts.  It seemed like she could never catch a break.  But it only made her more determined to carve out her own path and live life on her terms, not the universe’s. Because the universe was a bitch.

Deciding to give Flynn some payback, Izzy hopped up onto the counter. Leaning back against her hands, she crossed her legs at the ankles, raised her brows at Flynn, who hadn’t moved, and said, “So you can leave now.”

“Where’s your roommate?”

“Santa Cruz.”

“I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here alone.”

“I’m a big girl, Special Agent.  I have dead bolts on each one of the doors and locks on each of the windows. I have a kubaton I know how to use and a few slick self-defense moves. ”

“That won’t stop anyone who wants to get in here.”

“Would it stop you?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.

“No.”

“What would stop you?” she asked, then quickly answered, “Oh, wait, your ego.” She laughed caustically.  The hurt still stung deep.  Damn him for lighting her up only to snuff her out.

Hopping off the counter, she strode to the door, unlocked it, and then opened it wide.  “We’re done here, Flynn, please leave.”

Flynn didn’t move.  He wasn’t leaving, but he didn’t have a good reason to stay, not one she would accept.  If he was officially assigned to the task force he could say he was watching out for her, but his SAC nixed that because of what he’d done to the arrogant CEO at the restaurant.  “You’re too close to the crack, Ryker. Your involvement could hinder the investigation,” Mills had told him earlier.  Flynn didn’t argue, because it was true.

His cell phone rang.  He took it from his pocket.  It was Justin.

“Ryker.”

“Where are you?”

“At Miss Fuentes’s place.  I just dropped her off.”

“Stay there, we’re en route.”

Flynn glanced at Pink, an unsettling feeling in his stomach.  He moved from the kitchen to the living room and onto the front porch.  “Who’s we?”

“Me and Price.”

“Why you and Price?”

“I want to discuss using Miss Fuentes as a UC at the club. If she agrees, Price will handle her.”

Anger flared.  “Bullshit!  You gave me your word you’d only tap her for information.”

“I need more information, information only she can get, and to get it, she needs to go back to the club and work it.”

“No.”

“What’s the problem here, Flynn?”

“The problem is she isn’t trained. The problem is if she’s turned loose in there, she’s going to get hurt.  And I have a big problem with that.”

“Are you involved?”

“That’s none of your damn business.”

“It is if it impacts this case.  We’ve spent years trying to get in there.  She’s in.  If she’s agreeable, we’re going to capitalize on that.”

Flynn swiped his hand across his face in frustration.  He was powerless to stop Justin from reaching out to Pink.  That wasn’t what scared the hell out of him. What scared him was knowing she would jump in feet first.

 “Look, man, you know how this works,” Justin said. “This is task force 101. We’ll protect her.  Now step back and let me do my job.”

“Got it,” Flynn snapped, then hung up.

“Is something wrong?” Pink asked from the door.

Flynn slowly turned to face her.  “No.  Justin and Maddox are on their way over.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“Do they have news about Alex?”

“No.” He wished they did; that way, Pink would have no more use for them.

When she stepped out onto the porch and stared up at him for a long thoughtful minute, Flynn fought the urge to touch her. Her full lips were slightly parted, her big eyes wide, and he noticed for the first time she had a few freckles on her nose.

“Why are you so angry?” she asked.

What was he supposed to tell her?  That Maddox Price, the biggest skirt chaser in the city, had his sights set on her and was going to be handling her while they used her to get to Sorlov?  That he wanted to make love to her, but couldn’t because he’d want to again. That he wasn’t capable of giving her what she wanted and deserved.  To be loved? Was he supposed to tell her that he hated himself for being such an ass for hurting her?  That it infuriated him that he was forced to be hands-off with this investigation, all because of what he did to Stiles?  That he was a bystander this time around?  Or should he tell her that he was scared to death for her and his hands were tied because he’d blown it and she wanted nothing to do with him. Hell, if he asked to sleep on her sofa to make sure she was safe, she’d tell him to hit the road.  Could he blame her?

“I’m angry because they want you to make another video and officially become their under cover, classified informant at the club. I’m angry because I know you’re going do it and there’s not a damn thing I can do to stop you.”

“I’m sorry you don’t understand how much it means to me to do this, despite the risks to my safety.”

“Why?” he shouted, losing his patience with her motive.  “To bring back a sister who has never stepped up for you? Who won’t even acknowledge your existence? Do you think by doing this, you’ll get them to welcome you back into the fold with open arms?”  Flynn shook his head and grasped her by the shoulders and shook her.  “They don’t give a fuck about you, Isa, and yet you’ve broken the law and compromised not only your dignity but your safety for them.”  When he realized he was physically hurting her, Flynn let her go.  “Are you so desperate for their approval that you’re willing to sacrifice your life?”

Tears filled her eyes, then spilled down her cheeks.

“At least I’m willing to take the shot, Flynn. Something you’ll never do.”

Turning, she walked back into the house, leaving him standing on the porch, never feeling more alone in his life.

Chapter Twenty

Decked out in her Surf’s Up uniform—pink string bikini, blue spike wig, full-blown makeup, and pink peek-a-boo heels—Izzy paced nervously in the small living room as Justin typed up a summary of what they had discussed and how it was all going down.

From the moment she strode into the room fifteen minutes ago, Flynn’s disposition had deteriorated from agitated to enraged. He’d taken one look at her, told Maddox and Justin to shut their fucking mouths, and asked her if she could spare them all some pain and cover herself until they were ready to roll.

“You didn’t have a problem with my attire Saturday night, Flynn, why now?”

She knew damn well what had changed, and damn if she was going to let him boss her around.  She wasn’t an exhibitionist, but she worked hard to stay in shape and had no inhibitions about her body.