UNDERCOVER TWIN by Lena Diaz Read Free Book Online

was almost comical. Waverly had only ever seen Nick in his “charm” mode. A smile, a joke, fast-talking, were Nick’s usual methods for getting what he wanted. But when the situation demanded something more, he had no problem taking it up another level. Especially when a woman’s life was at stake. And, as much as he hated to admit it, especially when that woman was Heather.
    Only the fact that Waverly was his boss kept Nick from shoving his arm when he let go.
    “I wasn’t talking to you when I said I had conditions,” Nick said. “I was talking to her. ”
    Heather’s eyes widened.
    “Everyone out, except Miss Bannon,” Nick ordered. He ignored Rickloff’s and Waverly’s grumblings as his brother and Buresh herded everyone out of the room.
    Rafe pulled the door shut behind them, giving Nick a quick nod to let him know he’d guard the door.
    Nick stood directly in front of Heather’s chair and leaned down, intentionally using his size to try to intimidate her. “You aren’t going to Key West,” he growled. “With anyone. ”
    She raised her chin defiantly and crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes. I am.”
    “No. You aren’t. You’re going to stay here. You’re going to move in with my brother for a few weeks. He’s a police officer, a damn good one. He’ll keep you safe in case Gonzalez’s buddies come looking for you. I’ll go to Key West and try to get your sister out of this mess. But no way in hell are you coming with me.”
    She was shaking her head before he finished his last sentence. “No. You heard Rickloff. He said Gonzalez will kill Lily if I’m not in that bar to meet him. I am going. With or without you.”
    “I’ve been on dozens of undercover operations. What Rickloff is asking you to do sounds too simple, too easy. Nothing in the world of drug dealers is that simple or easy. He’s hiding something.”
    “Like what? Why would he hide anything?”
    “I don’t know. But it doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t pass the smell test. I don’t trust Rickloff. He’s from the Miami office, leading a task force to capture a dealer in Key West. But he hasn’t notified the special agent in charge at the Key West DEA office. Something isn’t right here. Rickloff’s motives are suspect, and this plan of his is far too dangerous and risky.”
    “Okay, what’s the alternative? How do we find my sister and get her back safely?”
    He shoved a hand through his hair and blew out an exasperated breath. “I haven’t figured that out yet.”
    “Well, we don’t have time for you to figure it out.”
    Nick stared down at Heather, surprised at how stubborn she was being. She’d always been so easy to get along with. She could be the hard-nosed P.I. when she had to be, but he’d seen the soft, passionate, feminine side of her and had never expected her to defy him like this.
    The only time they’d ever argued was after a phone call between Heather and her sister. When Heather told Nick her frustrations about Lily’s behavior, he’d flat out told her Lily was a drunk and needed to be in treatment. Maybe he could have worded his conclusions in softer language, but when Heather had insisted her sister wasn’t an alcoholic, the two of them had ended up in a heated discussion.
    She hadn’t backed down one bit and he’d ended up apologizing, even though he firmly believed she was wrong. Now, as he stood in her personal space, purposely trying to intimidate her into giving in, he wasn’t having any more luck than he’d had the first time they’d argued. Instead, she stared up at him, her eyes flashing with anger. And something else.
    Fear.
    She should be afraid, for herself. But he knew she wasn’t. She was afraid on behalf of her sister, and recklessly willing to do anything to help her, even if it meant putting herself in danger. He finally accepted that no amount of arguing was going to change her mind. Intimidation wasn’t going to work. He sighed.
    “I’ll help you get Lily