Marlow, Luca and I are gathered inside the jeep with the microphones in our ears. It's five in the evening. Time has never been swift as it is today. Every second counts, and no matter what it takes this operation needs to end tonight.

He's managed to get in touch with the so-called 'the Janitors' and my patience is running thin as we haven't heard anything from them. I'm not sure if we'll get a hold of those bastards at last, but I know I'll go nuts if I fail to crack that woman out of jail.

"Silence," Marlow snaps and we all abide as the call we've been waiting for finally rings.

He cues Luca at the back to start tracing, and quickly the Aussi's fingers hit the buttons of his laptop speedily.

"Yes I'm the one who needs your services," Marlow states rigorously into the phone.

I fix my earpiece and the voice clears.

"Who is this?" The voice is thick but cultivated.

"The job needs to be done before dawn." Marlow ignores his question. My eyes narrow, full focused. "Whatever your price is, I'll pay triple, just as I stated. I only need a clean job. No blowback."

We all stare at each other, waiting patiently for the pimp to respond. I know they're cautious of any new deals. One slip and they're rammed. Can't lower their guards.

"How did you get to know us?" he finally asks.

Through TikTok, jackass! Does he really expect us to answer?

A small smirk creases a corner of Marlow's mouth. "News flies by in this world. I don't need to know who you are, and you ain't gonna know who I am. It's as simple as that. We do our parts and everyone goes home happy. No exchanging business cards, no champagne toasting."

Silence. Time to weigh his guts. If it was a battlefield, then this would be that calm when every soldier is positioned for an attack, autopilot to stay numb yet to feel every little moving thing until you fire.

"What do you want?" A voice interrupts my thoughts.

Got you! Marlow winks.

"Room service! Why else would I come to you?" He booms into his horrid laughter. I crinkle my nose, and Luca rolls his eyes. "I heard you can make the dirt disappear. Any type. Such a talent you have. Hopefully it wasn't some underground propaganda 'cause I'm a very begrudging person when someone fucks up." Humor in his voice vanishes.

No response but silence from the other end. Is this going well? Damn it, I think it's gonna drive me out of my mind soon. I glance at Marlow and he beckons me to chill, as if he's got it under control.

"I'll take your silence as a yes," he says. "A kid of mine got himself into some bloody shit this morning. Silenced my business partner during some little argument—you know what happens when big bills are involved in some transactions made by amateurs." He sighs dramatically. "I already have my people working on the footage, but I need a scapegoat as soon as possible. He's my only son and I'm just a father—you got kids? If you did you'd understand me."

As he goes into details, our strategy begins to look feasible enough. The plan is to have someone pose dead in a hotel room, plant cameras all over, and wait until those cleaners make a move on the body.

If no CCTV footage can prove that Mia didn't meet Anne, then I'll have to prove that she was framed by someone. And whoever it is will pay brutally.

"Got anything?" Marlow asks Luca after the call.

"Northwest industrial area, somewhere near St. John Cathedral park. It's not a residential neighborhood, but it's listed with a number of warehouses. Maybe they operate around here," Luca replies.

"Not bad, boy. Tracing the untraceable. Marvelous. I still don't get why you dropped out of MIT, huh? Such a shame." Marlow grins.

Not sure either. All the way from Tasmania to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a place where geniuses go, only to drop out at his last year? I'm sure he has a story of his own.

Who doesn't? It's a filthy world and we've got to survive.

"Now I'm going to speak to Pine so he can prepare the backup for the raid tonight. I think I'm growing fond of this operation and I want to crack those bitches myself now," Marlow says excitedly.

"We agreed that I don't need them to interfere, Marlow! I don't have the damn luxury to play by the rules right now!" Anger tightens my chest.

"And that's my condition to help you, kid! If it was the same Red who saved my ass in Bogota, then I'd be relaxed and let you handle this shit! But who am I kidding now? You're so emotionally driven that I don't think I trust you no more!" Marlow recoils, shooting accusing daggers at me. "We'll handle those dirty rats. You wanna save your pretty lady? Then don't do anything reckless and let me deal with it!"

As if I'll just sit down and do nothing! Trusting the system is something I loathe with all my being. The damn protocols are a waste of time, and waiting for someone's order is an errand I've long refused to do. I'm no soldier. Never fit to be one and that's why I quit.

Cooperating with the FBI was Marlow's idea that I agreed to for the sake of the pledge friendship he once shared with my old man. Served together in the Navy SEAL but the southerner couldn't fit the role. He should understand me better, because we're almost the same.

Rebels by blood.

"I understand you're now an asset to the Bureau, Marlow, but I share no sentiment. You simply need me, and I need you right now. Unless I take part in this operation, there won't be anything left to do because I won't hesitate breaking all the Kingstons until I get the truth out of them! You know I can do just that so don't push me."

"Fuck! Go ahead and get yourself in a much bigger shit!" he grunts while unbuckling the seatbelt. I hold my steadfast gaze at him, waiting for his decision. "Oh, I hate you! Fine! As we're speaking they're analyzing every intel gathered about the syndicate—including the trace Luca here has just pulled a while ago. They'll use your plan to lure them, and afterwards we'll get them in the act. Pine sanctioned this because he also wants to have those rats out of the streets, so chill now!"

"Then we got nothing to discuss. I'll take part in the operation, then you and your team can have all the credit you want," I say simply.

"You're fucked!" Marlow booms. "You think I'm doing this for some credit, kid! You actually think—"

"It's what you guys know how to do best! You don't care about the people in need as long as you get to do your damn jobs and return home with medals! If something goes wrong because of your task force, I'm gonna hold you responsible, Marlow!" I warn.

"Oh God." He erupts into laughter. "For what? All because of a woman? Are you out of your fucking mind now? What has she given to you, huh?"

"Alright, alright, shut it, both of you!" Luca snaps from the rear. "We got this, okay? If you keep fighting, we're getting nowhere! I might as well pack my bag and get back to Tasmania and freeze to death! I'm here to help the little Madam because I know she's innocent so if you two have something to sort out, you can do it later!"

"Unbelievable. You, too?" Marlow huffs, nailing Luca with his eyes. "Maybe I need to meet this famous Madam once again and see what a witch she is to charm both of you. Did she graduate from Hogwarts?"

"Are we doing it together or not?" I deadpan.

"Fine, you jerk! We'll work together. And just to be clear, Red, you're part of the task force, whether you like it or not. Now start acting like one and stop being a killjoy! Damn, maybe I should put a camera inside your car, or a microchip in your body, since tracking you down has become impossible."

I roll my eyes. "Tell me where I should drop you and I'll gladly do so." Screeching the ignition, the jeep starts off.

"Anywhere is fine. I got my bodyguard waiting across the street," Marlow replies.

"You got a bodyguard? For what? To protect your goon ass?" Luca stifles a laugh.

I manage to laugh after a long moment since this whole fiasco began. The only good moment I can well recall is my last conversation with Mia on the phone. Her sweet voice when she talked about the baby. God, she was excited.

And if her mother is really in Portland, what will happen now? Has Kenna picked her up by now? I guess I'll speak to her and see what's going on. She'll freak for sure knowing her daughter is locked up, accused for murder.

"I'm serious about putting a camera on you, kid. Don't blow anything up," Marlow snaps as I pull over near some public park down the road. "And when this is all over you and I are going to have real talk." He grabs the handle and slips out.

Luca does the same. He got plenty of stuff to prepare for tonight.

Again I start the car and move. But when I think of cameras it hits the back of my mind and an idea pops. Shit, why didn't I think of it earlier? What if there's a camera inside Mia's car? What if her movements were recorded at the time Anne died?

"Damn!" I halt stoutly and grab my mobile. A thud in my chest increases as I call Bill, who thankfully answers right away. "Hey. I got something to ask."

"Shoot. I'm already a living corpse here. My kid is sick, my wife is freaked, and my boss is jailed. What else could go wrong?" He sounds indisposed, probably had a few drinks.

Perks of being a breadwinner. Cheers to all men in the world.

"The Lexus got a black box changed after the attack, right?" I ask urgently.

"Um, yeah. When they changed the airbags they also replaced the black box and installed a small dash cam for security. Even though the boss lady despised the fact that it steals her privacy, she didn't tell me to remove it. It's still there—why?" Bill rumbles.

A smirk curves my mouth. "You have the keys? I need the car. That may be the fastest ticket to prove that she wasn't with Anne when the murder happened, Bill. Tell me where you are right now."

"I'm home. But we can meet at Kenna's maybe, because the car's there."

"Great. I'll see you there. No soul should know about it." I hang up and smile. "Now I'll get you, motherfucker!" I step on the oil and drive speedily back to Arlington heights.

Even if I'm dying to capture the people involved in this, there's nothing I desire more than seeing that woman's smile. I miss her terribly. I miss holding her, kissing her, and taking her in every way she possibly needs me to.

Ah, she always awakes the beast in me. Maybe she's truly a witch! A gorgeous witch. I laugh dreadfully. I can't even relax with the adrenaline spiking like a rocket. I'm not sure how I got convoluted with her, but she's the only good thing in my life.

It doesn't take a millennium until I arrive at Kenna's. I find Bill inside the Lexus with a phone and microchip in his hand, but no relief finds me as I've learned not to believe unless I see. He gives me a convulsive glance as I sit, my eyes firm and focused on him.

"That's it, right? I thought it wouldn't be here," I ask.

"It was well hidden. Don't know why I didn't think of it," Bill says with a sigh, and his attention stays on his phone after inserting the chip.

"Is it still working?"

"Perfectly. You said she didn't leave the car? Because it only works if the engine is on."

"She didn't," I reply.

I guess it was on accessory mode when she waited for minutes until she decided to leave. If the camera works, then we got the evidence we've been looking for.

It's almost six as we exit the car. Saying that my heart is racing is an understatement. I wonder how I became this, yielding to emotions as Marlow raps.

"Bill? Red?" It's Kenna.

We Both stare at her and she's not alone. A brunette middle aged woman reminds me of Mia right away. Long dark hair cascading down her slender shoulders, and olive skin that reminds of suntanned women of Acapulco.

Well . . . I've had some adventures of my own.

Now I know where she got her beauty, her body, and those terrific brown eyes. It's genetic. It's as if I'm seeing an older version of her in years to come, and all I feel is longing for her presence now. And this must be Sophie Diaz. Her mom.

"What are you guys doing here?" Kenna asks us, and my attention shifts back to her instantly.

"We got it, Kenna! We found the evidence to prove that Mia didn't kill Anne!" Bill states and the blonde blocks her mouth to stifle her gasp.

But on the other hand, Mia's mom gives us a very hardened look. "What do you mean by Mia didn't kill Anne? Where is my daughter, Kenna?" she demands.