Free Reckless by Samantha Love Page B

alleyway. I rush to my room, ignoring their stoned expressions.
    Closing the door to my room, I go to the sink and splash cold water on my face. I’ve never seen such hunger in my eyes. Can this really be happening? Am I actually falling for a man that I swore to take down?  
    I can’t think right now. I just want to get this stupid device off of me and to be under the covers in bed.
    I loosen the adhesive and pry the tape off of my leg. The pain is welcoming—anything to distract me from the sexual urge I so aptly denied.
    Hands beat at the door.  
    I dry my face and shut off the water. From the window, I see that it’s Nick and José. Those two are probably worried sick about me.
    I open the door. “Hey.”
    “How long have you been here?” Nick asks. “Why didn’t you call us?”
    “Relax, I just got here. I was about to let you know I got back safely.”  
    I hold the door open and let them inside. This isn’t a conversation we should be having while they’re standing outside.  
    “How far were you guys able to track me?”
    José shuts the door. “We saw the Escalade leave. Two figures were in the back, so we figured you were inside. The curve of the roads forced us to stay close. I think they knew we were trailing them, so we backed off, but then we lost you. We couldn’t hear anything from the mic after you passed the gate. We were worried that it might have been discovered.”
    I tell them about the dress and having to remove the wire and the driver freaking out about something. I leave out the part concerning me being blindfolded and the freaky sex room I discovered. I don’t think Nick would let me go on another date with Diego if he knew such risks were present.  
    I don’t even know why I’m willing to take the chance. It isn’t only lust. There’s something else. I understand the pain I see in Diego’s eyes. I know that kind of loss. He isn’t evil; he’s simply doing the only thing he knows in order to survive, believing it will give him the means to change the world.
    “Where did he take you?” Nick asks.
    “Machu Picchu. I think I earned his trust.”
    I ignore Nick’s baleful eyes at the word earned .  
    “So what’s next?” José asks.
    “I’m not sure. Diego said he would call me soon. That might mean tomorrow or it might mean next week.”
    “I’ve got reports of a big meeting happening soon,” José says. “Supposedly several high-ranking drug leaders are coming into town. I’m not sure when, but word on the street is that a former high-ranking drug dealer has come out of retirement.”
    “Who? It isn’t—”
    José nods. “Eduardo Peña. That’s what I’m hearing, at least. I want to get a recon setup for when they come in. We need eyes on who is getting off the plane. I think I’ve got a couple of good spots picked out along the mountainside. I’ll let you guys know in the morning. I’m going right now to meet one of our agents who came into town to give us the equipment we’ll need.”
    José tells us to lay low and to get some rest as he heads out.  
    I ignore Nick’s lingering stare.
    “So what happened?” Did you get any good evidence?”
    “Nothing really. He took me to his house. We ate lunch, and he gave me a dress. And no. There was no hard evidence anywhere.”
    Just his hard cock.
    “Why did he take you to Machu Picchu?”
    “I think he was trying to be romantic.”
    Nick laughs—a jealous laugh, I sense. “I would love to see Diego’s version of romance.”
    My nostrils flare. Like Nick knows anything about being romantic. “Actually it was quite nice. He took me to a lookout point where there was champagne and all these little candles were set out. It was like something out of a movie.”
    Nick isn’t interested.  
    “Did you kiss him?”
    “No! And even if I did, what would it matter? I’m supposed to date the guy. If I really want to get into his inner circle, I might have to do more than nod when he’s talking.”
    “I