Undercover Love (Draft 1)

Chapter Nine

After putting up with the guys' incessant questions for a few hours, including the following: "How did you guys meet?", "What made you choose to return to him after running?", "How are you going to spend your time here?", and "When can we expect mini Liam and Tias running around?" which earned Matteo a slap from both Adriano and Liam, we all decided to retire to our rooms.

          Locking the door, I decide to grab my laptop and headphones from my bag and facetime Thorpe to give him the latest update.

          He picks up almost immediately as I place the headphones over my ears. "What have you got for me, Jackson?" He asks eagerly.

          "My plan to show myself at the café worked. He's brought me back to his home and introduced me to his most trusted men," I whisper, making sure I can't be heard from the other side of the door. "There's Matteo, Ryder, Adriano and Enzo. I don't have their last names or any other information about them yet, but I plan to work up relationships with them to gain more information. Enzo might be difficult though, he doesn't seem particularly pleased with my presence." I explain with a sigh.

          "I'll get Agent Dale to look up their names in the system along side Amato's and see what we can get. Do you have any information about the Mafia's involvement with the recent murders?" He asks me, not seeming impressed with the information I have gained so far.

          "Not yet. I don't want to jump into asking specific questions when I've just been allowed into their home. It'll raise too many suspicions," I shrug, still keeping my voice low. "I'll give it a day or two, see what else I can get out of them, and then I'll see if I can get Amato to admit to anything or at least give me some details into what he does that could link him to them."

          Thorpe nods his head, accepting my plan for now, and says his goodbyes before ending the call.

          I let out a sigh and close the laptop before hiding it underneath my pillow. Even if one of them finds it, it's protected by the FBI's security system so they'd have a hard time getting into it. But I'd still rather not risk it.

         Standing off my bed, I go back into my suitcase and pull out the book I'd packed away for the hotel, The Ritual by Shantel Tessier, and make my way over to the beanbag to read for a few hours before I head to sleep.

---

          I must have fallen asleep while reading because I wake up curled around the beanbag with my book tucked in my arms.

          Standing from the floor, I stretch my arms above my head, feeling my bones crack and pop from sleeping in such an uncomfortable position. My mouth feels uncomfortably dry, meaning I definitely slept with my mouth wide open.

          Ladylike, I know.

          I decide to head down the stairs and attempt to find the kitchen so I can make myself a glass of water. It's a good opportunity for me to get a better look at the layout of the house without having Liam stuck to my side. If I can get the layout, it'll make it easier for Thorpe to send men in when I give them the all clear to take Liam down.

          Keeping my footsteps silent, I walk down the three flights of stairs once again. I keep checking each floor for any sign of anyone being awake, but so far it seems like everyone's sound asleep. 

          Reaching the bottom, I check the lounge before taking a left and pushing myself through the door that leads to the kitchen. 

          As I step into the kitchen, my eyes widen in amazement. This is no ordinary kitchen. It's huge, magnificent, and big enough to cook for a small city. It beautifully continues the black, white, and grey theme of the house. The countertops are made of sleek black granite, and the cabinets are a glossy white that gleams in the light. The stainless steel appliances are state-of-the-art and look like they belong in a professional kitchen.