The Suppressor by Erik Carter (best free novels .txt) 📗

Tanner wanted someone else to go undercover within a notorious crime family, someone who wouldn’t turn off his listening device for occasional moments of brief privacy, then by all means, pull Jake out and bring another guy in.

Tanner had yet to bring someone else in.

Jake’s undercover time was drawing to an end anyway. What did it matter now?

And Tanner trusted him. For some reason, the old fart had seen something in Jake—an older recruit and someone with a background atypical to most new police officers—and put him on a fast-track to a detective slot. That’s why Jake had initially taken this undercover assignment—building credentials at a lightning-fast pace.

Then the assignment ballooned into something bigger and more time-intensive than anyone had thought it would.

Now, Jake just needed to survive this meeting with the Rojas. The department would pull him from the undercover position, and he would take C.C. with him as he left the Farones. Then, no more future as a Pensacola detective. Hell, a future in Florida even seemed unlikely. Tanner’s consultant, Agent Pace, was going to put him and C.C. in witness protection.

And then?

No clue. The future was opaque. Foggy.

And he liked it that way.

C.C.’s bohemian spirit was contagious, and he had embraced the idea of the unknown.

Jake shook his head at the thought as he regarded his reflection. The eyes looking back were emerald green, not his natural color.

One thing was for sure—he and C.C. would need to get out of Pensacola. The metropolitan area had a decent population, but it wasn’t huge, and there was a small town vibe to the place. After how long he’d been embedded in the Farones, the removal of his bright green contact lenses wouldn’t be enough to avoid recognition from all the Farone-associated people in Pensacola.

He leaned closer to the mirror, examined the contact lenses.

Such a bright green. Damn bright. He couldn’t wait to never wear them again.

His attention went lower.

The damn mole.

On the corner of his right jaw.

He ran a finger along it. While he disliked the contact lenses, he loathed the mole. Always had, especially as a kid.

It was another identifying feature the Farone family would not forget.

No, he wouldn’t be coming back to Pensacola for a long time. If ever. Tanner would put a good word in for him at whatever police department he ended up at. Heck, maybe Jake would still be on the fast-track to detective.

Or maybe he wouldn’t join another police department at all. Jake could begin a new career for his new life. Sure, why not? The only constancy he needed was C.C.

He examined his green-eyed reflection for a moment longer.

And left the bathroom.

Jake walked into the library and found C.C. arranging flowers in a vase, her back to him, and when she heard his footsteps, she stopped but didn’t turn around.

He took her shoulders, and she rested her cheek against the back of his hand, still not turning.

“You bought me flowers,” he said. “How sweet.”

She finally faced him, rolled her eyes. There was a slight smile, but it couldn’t overpower the concerned expression he’d seen from across the courtyard a few minutes earlier.

She wore a light gray sweater dress, long-sleeve with a V-neck opening, under which was a black shirt. The dress fell to her knees over a pair of green leggings. Ringed over her hips was a lime green belt with a rubbery shine. Green plastic bangle bracelets encircled one wrist.

Grays and greens, all nicely coordinated. She was outlandish but still stylish.

He studied the concern in her smile.

“You heard?”

She nodded.

Jake exhaled, looked to the ceiling. “A hit against the Rojas. Tonight. Unbelievable. This really screws with our plans of getting you out of here. Why did this have to happen right now?”

C.C. smiled at him. “Life doesn’t happen to you, love. It happens for you. One’s identity is forged by the way one meets life’s challenges.”

He could always count on C.C. for some sage philosophy, even at a moment like this.

“I don’t want you to go,” she said. “To the hit tonight.”

“I know it’s gonna be dangerous, but—”

“No, it’s more than that.” She looked away from him, balled a fist and squeezed it with her other hand. “I have a premonition.”

Jake sighed. “C.C….”

C.C. had a lot of premonitions. And hunches. And suspicions. All of them fueled by the zodiac or the teachings of a long-dead philosopher or current trends in the field of metaphysics.

She stepped away, crossing her arms, and his fingers slid off her waist.

“I’m being serious.” Her eyes remained downcast as she spoke, moving side to side, as though reading divinations on the floorboards. “Listen to me. There’s a bad vibe tonight.”

“Babe, I can’t go off one of your intuitions. Tanner was listening. He heard all the details about the hit.” He patted his belt line, a small clunk as his fingers hit the listening device. “They’ll pull me out tonight. That was always the plan—to use any big event like this as an excuse to get me out. When I call him, we’ll make the arrangements, and—”

“It’s Burton,” she said, finally looking up.

Jake cocked his head. “What?”

“He’s up to something. Something outside the family.”

Jake shrugged. “Of course he is. I told you what happened in New Orleans. I also told you Burton’s more dangerous after what happened there, and that you should leave the mansion, but that’s beside the point.” He narrowed his eyes at her for a moment. “Everyone knows Burton’s trying to get leverage against the Farone-loyal contingent, so he—”

Her arms uncrossed, fists swinging to her sides. “You’re not listening to me, Jake!”

Her eyes widened as soon as she said it. Her hands went to her mouth.

She’d used his real name.

Jake sucked in a breath. His heart hammered. He looked out the window, across the courtyard to the great hall. Burton, Glover, and McBride, the last members of their group remaining after the meeting—their backs were turned to the window, and they were in mid conversation.

He looked to the doorway a few feet away, the