Fatally Yours

Chapter 11

•INDIANA•

Lee never contacted me for the rest of the day, so I took the opportunity to run a background check on his friend Alexa. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything on the person Lee called 'Sef,' so I think it's probably just a nickname for someone working with them.

Alexa Calloway was already in the system when I looked her up. She had an interesting rap sheet, and I'm not even surprised that she's working for Lee. The girl was charged with three counts of murder, and she's still out there walking free.

Turns out the Valahia Syndicate has a powerful influence, with a list of attorneys on their payroll, ready to defend the members of the Valahia Syndicate.

Other than her rap sheet, her background was pretty solid for a badass, murderous chick. She ran away from home at the age of 16, moved to LA, got into juvie for three years, and ever since she got out on parole, she's flown completely under the radar.

She left no traces behind and hasn't been seen anywhere since. Pretty clever of the Valahia Syndicate to pull a move like that. They took her under their wing and have been protecting her all these years.

I was still in the middle of going through her records when the picture on the TV suddenly caught my attention. I grabbed the remote and quickly turned up the volume. The news reporter was saying that Tony Keller, the man pictured on the screen, was found dead at retired Judge Samson Martinez's house.

I slowly got off the kitchen stool and walked toward the TV, the reporter's words fading into the background as I stared at the crime scene shown behind the reporter.

My breath caught in my throat.

It was the same house—the one where I dropped off the oil barrel this morning. Tony Keller's body was found there.

Realization dawned on me, and I wasted no time reaching for my burner phone to call Keith. He answered right away.

"Tony Keller."

He sighed. "You saw the news."

"I'm trying so hard to wrap my head around this right now. He set me up," I said, frustrated.

"He did, but bear in mind, you're not an accomplice. You didn't know about Tony's body in the barrel and were just following orders. You dropped off the vehicle and left. End of story."

I chuckled dryly. "Yeah, well, when this is all over, the Internal Affairs will open a new investigation and trace all this back to me. It could ruin my entire career!"

"Indie," Keith said calmly, "you're currently working undercover on a highly classified case. The I.A. won't pin anything on you. You're just doing your job, and no matter how powerful the Valahia Syndicate is, they can't hold anything against you. Remember that."

His words managed to calm me down a little, but still, anger burned fiercely inside my chest. And right now, all that anger is directed at one person.

"I'll call you back," I said, ending the call before Keith could respond.

I picked up my other phone and called Lee. He answered on the first ring.

"You set me up!" I exclaimed angrily.

He chuckled on the other end, amused.

"You didn't like our little present?" he teased mockingly.

I felt my guard slipping because of my anger, but I regained my composure and slipped back into character.

"You could've warned me. I almost got busted by the cops today when they nearly searched the truck."

"But they didn't," he cut in quickly, and I clenched my fists in irritation.

"You're right. That's because I'm smart enough to save myself. So now what? Did I pass your stupid challenge?"

He laughed. "You did, but I can't promise there aren't more waiting for you. Today was successful because you've proven yourself trustworthy, which means I have a job offer for you."

My anger immediately melted away, and I smiled to myself.

"I'll call you when I need you. Have a good night, Miss West," he said before hanging up.

I stared at my phone screen for a moment, feeling a strange sense of triumph, even though I had just unknowingly delivered a dead body to someone's house.

This is so messed up, but that doesn't mean I'm giving up. I can feel that I'm getting closer now. Lee finally has a good reason to trust me, but I still have a long way to go to earn his full trust. For now, my first task is complete, and that's all that matters.

Even if it costs me my own humanity.