Page 82 of Above ’N’ Beyond

Back in the apartment, he cued up the audio, fast-forwarding to the time when he and Bella went inside Paola’s house, then listening to Marco tell Bella about his suspicions.

“Dammit.” Jamie fisted his hand.

He was completely to blame for what had just happened. The first thing he should have done after they’d left the party was listen to this audio. Instead, he’d been making love with Bella. He’d gotten sloppy, distracted, because he was so in love he couldn’t think straight. A dangerous mindset to be in.

Again he fast-forwarded, already knowing not much of any significance had been said during dinner. Aside from potential voice recognition of the men from Italy, the audio was worthless. Evidence he’d still have to turn over, but worthless.

The last part of the recording was him and Bella. Making love.

Knowing every word they said, every moan and sigh would be recorded for posterity on a government device, he’d tried convincing her to take off the necklace.

Jamie shut off the audio, staring at the receiver a moment before dropping it to the floor, then smashing the heel of his shoe down hard on the device. With a resounding crack, the case shattered. Pieces of plastic flew across the floor.

He pulled out the tiny transmitter from his pocket and put that, too, on the floor, also crushing it beneath the heel of his shoe.

Jamie stared at the remnants of what had probably cost the FBI a solid grand.

He’d just destroyed evidence in a federal investigation. He’d done it for Bella. He wouldn’t cause her additional pain or embarrassment by handing over that audio.

Minutes later, headlights turned into the driveway. Jamie opened the door. Jenkins and another agent he didn’t recognize got out of a dark sedan.

“Jax, stay,” he said to his dog, who lay down, keeping his legs tucked beneath him at the ready and watching Jamie for another command. “Your snitch in Sing Sing sang like a bird,” he said as the two agents came inside.

“Sorry about that.” Jenkins did look sincerely apologetic. “Cuff him anyway,” he said to the other agent, who whipped a set of handcuffs from his belt and snapped them around Ianetti’s bound wrists. Jenkins’s brows drew together as he pointed to the pieces of black plastic scattered across the floor. “What’s all this?”

“Your transmitter and receiver.” Jamie crossed his arms, not giving a crap when Jenkins’s eyes narrowed more.

“What the hell happened to them? Those were worth a lot of money.”

“Sorry.” Jamie shrugged. “I accidentally stepped on them in the dark.”

Jax cracked his jaw, panting and looking as if he were laughing.

“I’ll bet you did.” Jenkins pursed his lips, glaring at Jamie for a moment before nodding to the ceiling. “Think she’ll talk? If there’s any chance of that happening, I’m pulling you out.”

Jamie stared the man down. “Not your decision to make.”

“You want to bet?” Jenkins tried getting in Jamie’s face but wasn’t tall enough. “This is an FBI investigation. If I say you’re out, you’re out. I won’t have a dead undercover cop on my record.”

Not that Jamie doubted it. To Jenkins, he was a statistic. Nothing more than a means to an end. In other words, the FBI couldn’t be counted on to have his back.

“You can’t force me,” he growled, not caring about the chain of command. “I’m the undercover. Whether you like it or not, I am calling the shots, and we had a deal. I get you the probable cause you need, and you get my father paroled. His life depends on that, and I won’t let you or anyone else in the FBI take that chance from him.” Or from Jamie.

Just once more, he wanted to hug his father, get to know him again, then go fishing like they’d done when he was a kid.

Wisely backing away, Jenkins cleared his throat. “Why would she keep her mouth shut? How do you know she’s not on the phone right now telling Paola or Tony you’re a cop?”

He didn’t. Not for certain, but he wasn’t ready to give up. His dad’s life was worth the risk. “Give me twenty-four hours to find out.”

Bella cared about him. How much, he didn’t know. She’d need time to process tonight’s revelations. Tonight’s confessions.

Jenkins made a sound of exasperation. “Fine, but if I don’t hear from you in that timeframe, I’ll send in a squad of agents to pull you out whether you like it or not.”

Jamie gave a curt nod of agreement. “Where are you taking Ianetti?”

“To a safehouse under lock and key until this is over.” Jenkins bent to grab Ianetti’s legs while the other agent grabbed his arms.

Jamie followed them to the sedan, opening the rear door so they could dump Marco onto the back seat and cuff him to the chain bolted to the floorboard.