“You don’t have anything on them,” he said. His words were quiet. But there was a deadly fury beneath them. Danita’s breath lodged in her throat and her body tensed, as if she’d have to break up a vicious fistfight any second now.
“I have a witness who is willing to testify about Tobias Black’s role in running illegal arms and drugs. The FBI has compiled a solid case and we’re ready to proceed without your cooperation.”
Black’s jaw worked. The same eyes that had looked at her so tenderly earlier were furious slits. Finally he arched one brow and asked, “What’s that to do with Caleb and Maya?”
Danita looked at Hunter, looking forward to his answer. Instead of saying anything, though, he lifted a file off his desk and handed it to the man across from him. Black held his gaze as he took it, then slowly, lowered his eyes and read.
The man was good. Damned good. His expression didn’t change. But Danita could tell that the file was freaking him out. When he was finished, he didn’t hand it back to Hunter. Instead he flicked the edges like it was nothing, and gave her boss a bored look.
“So you’ve found a few past indiscretions on my brother and sister. They were both minors at the time of these crimes. Do you really think you can prove their culpability after all this time? And make it matter? I don’t think so,” Gabriel dismissed.
“No. You’re right, there probably isn’t any way to convict them for something ten years old,” Hunter mused. “But your brother is in law enforcement. A few words in the right ear, and his career can take a serious nosedive.”
Anger flashed in Gabriel’s eyes, telling Danita that Hunter had scored a direct hit.
“Then there’s your sister. She does have an actual crime against her.” Expressionless, Hunter handed a second file across the desk.
Face hard, Gabriel took it. Danita could almost hear his teeth grinding together as he read the pages.
“As you can see, we have enough to reopen the case against your sister,” Hunter pointed out quietly. “Whether we could get a conviction is debatable. But I can’t imagine she’d enjoy the trial.”
Gabriel looked like he wanted to jump across the desk and beat the hell out of Hunter. Then, like a switch, it all shut off. The fury in his eyes, the air of frustration. Even the tension seemed to flow out of his body. He leaned back and gave Hunter a bored shrug.
“Entrapment and blackmail,” Gabriel mused. “You have an interesting game plan here.”
“I hear there’s a big celebration planned in Black Oak in two weeks,” was all Hunter said. But his smile was pure satisfaction. “Hadn’t you heard? Your brother is getting married. A Valentine’s wedding, as a matter of fact. A week or so of parties, rehearsals, prenuptial fun. I’ll bet your family would love for you to be there.”
From the shocked look in Gabriel’s eyes, he hadn’t heard.
And just where did she fit into this little game, Danita wondered. As if reading her mind, Hunter slanted her a look.
“The two of you are going to go to Black Oak under the guise of joining your brother’s wedding celebrations,” he informed them. “Arrangements have already been made for you to take part in a criminal gathering that’s taking place there. Your special skills will appeal to the other guests. You’re there to cause discomfort, to gather information and to observe. Not to take any action. After two weeks, your job is done.”
“I don’t need Blondie for that.”
“She’ll be there to keep you in line, to solidify your cover and to take over after you’ve gotten her in the door.”
“What cover, and why would I need her?” His gaze was like liquid gold as it slid over her, making Danita feel both hot and just a tiny bit worried at the same time.
“You’ll go in as a man who plays the game,” Hunter said in a contemplative tone, like a guy weaving a bedtime story. “Your reputation is already established, your talents well-known. So basically, you’re going in as yourself. Your goal is to meet a small group of businessmen whose focus is to consolidate power. These are smart men who will quickly see why including you has the potential for multiplying that power. The intel points to an as yet unknown leader who is calling all of the shots. Rumor is that leader is Tobias Black. You know him, his style and his methods well enough to be able to recognize whether that’s true or not.”
“Screw that,” Gabriel growled, tossing the files on the desk. “I’m not going to send up my own father. No way in hell. I’ll go to jail myself first.”
“Then why don’t you take this as a chance to prove his innocence? Before someone else sends him up.”
Those words, and the friendly tone of advice that they’d been offered in, made Gabriel pause. He gave Hunter a searching look.
So did Danita. She was baffled. Hunter was usually professional to the point of abruptness. But with this guy, this con artist, he was teetering right over the line into friendliness.
“All you need to do is visit your hometown, be yourself, and listen for information. In and out, no fuss, no muss.”
“And Blondie?”
“The men are rumored to be bringing along lady friends for entertainment. Professionals. Danita, basically, is going in as your paid companion.”
“My very own hooker,” Black said with a taunting smile.
“What?” Forgetting professionalism, to hell with keeping her cool, Danita jumped to her feet. “No! Hunter this was just a fishing trip. You didn’t say anything about a long-term assignment.”
Not that she’d have said no when he’d brought her on the case. Hunter had been her trainer. He was her boss. Her hero.
And now her pimp?
“This is a bad idea, Hunter. I’m not the right person for this job.” Not because she couldn’t handle it. Hell, it was right up her alley. But Gabriel Black? Him, she couldn’t handle.
She grimaced at the realization.
“I need someone I can trust,” Hunter said. “Someone who will use their brain and their instincts while following the rule book. You’re my best, Danita. I trust you to handle this job to my specifications.”
She closed her eyes against that, wishing she could as easily close off the obligation. She didn’t know what Hunter was asking of her. Not completely. And she wouldn’t unless she accepted the assignment. But she did know, perfectly well, that he was running this case his way, outside the rules. And he was asking her to do the same.
He trusted her.
Which was something very, very few people in her life had ever done.
“What’s the primary objective?” she asked quietly.
“To keep Gabriel alive.”
That made pretty boy jump. His eyes rounded and he tossed the file on the desk as he shook his head.
“What?” he protested. “Hey now, nobody said anything about risks. I think I’ll take my chances with the solicitation entrapment, thank you.”
Danita waited for Hunter to shut him down. But her boss only smiled.
“Danita’s good. You’ll be safe.”
“I realize you think you have me over a barrel here, but let’s keep it real for a second,” Black insisted. “After all, it’s apparently my life on the line. You have enough to force my hand. But if I play the game, I demand a partner who can handle the job and keep my ass safe.”
He gave Danita a long, sexy look. The kind of look that made her breath catch in her throat, her nipples pucker and her mind see red. She hated that look. Hated even more