A NEW ALLY

**Rebecca’s story**

I wished Dominic had an answer to my question. And it wasn’t the first time I’d asked him this, but each time he avoided the subject. I didn’t know the reason, but it was already frustrating.
I was also the one who gave up looking for explanations. And it wasn’t because I didn’t really want to know, because I felt a tremendous pain in my heart, but because somewhere along the way I realized that this subject was affecting him, too.
The love between us was growing every day. Every second it deepened. And he never missed a moment to show me that. Even if there was this one doubt, my soul was at peace.
I didn’t even feel how this week passed. In between preparations for Emily’s book release and the premiere of Dominic’s movie, I also had some time to meet up with Logan to discuss the progress of the drug case.
And because I had planned to involve Eve in this book project today, I was going to meet with her. I needed her as an ally. She was a very important pawn. She was the only link between Tom and his business, and somehow, I had to get her on my side. I had always suspected that her ex-husband, Zack, was involved in a lot more than he let anyone see. So, my talk with Eve today was going to be very important and interesting at the same time. Because it was very clear to me, in order to have her as an ally, I needed to fill her in on a lot of things. Including my actual job. I knew Eve was on the right side.
“So today you and Eve are seeing each other, is that right?”
“I intend to, yes,” I replied, somehow lost in thought. I had to get them in order for everything to be perfect. Dominic never knew the whole truth about me and I didn’t like it. But it was better that way. The world I was wandering in was dangerous, and even though he was a supernatural being, I couldn’t expose him like that.
“Then if you’ll be out, I’ll take the opportunity to go to the studio and put the finishing touches on the film’s premiere. It’s getting closer and I want everything to be perfect.”
“Sounds like a plan to me, then. See you later, love” As soon as I kissed him, I walked out to the parking lot. I had called Eve and planned to meet at a small restaurant nearby. It wasn’t very well known, so it was not very populated. We didn’t want to attract attention. And it certainly wasn’t the one I had met Emily last week. I hated uninvited guests.
“Rebecca, it’s so nice to see you again,” she greeted me as soon as I sat down. I glanced around. The Mellow Tree was a rustic, typical New York setting, and it was exactly what I wanted to keep from standing out.
“Nice to see you again too, Eve” That’s all I had time to say as the waiter assigned to our table took our order. It was still morning, so we ordered the usual coffee and a large breakfast.
“How have you been? You know after...” She couldn’t even pronounce that bastard’s name. It was understandable, considering what he’d done to her in the past.
“Mostly fine. Last week I met with an author for an event, which by the way I’d like to get you involved in. We met at Serenade and by the end of the meeting I could swear I was being watched.”
“Zack?” Eve finally pronounced his name with a trace of hatred so visible on her face.
“It was definitely him.” I added, taking a large gulp of the coffee they had already served us.
“You know, I’m so sorry that through my connection with Dominic, you have to suffer. Zack is so dangerous...” I could clearly see and feel that she was truly upset, but that was the moment when I decided even more to tell her and that our meeting really needed to happen.
“It’s not your fault, Eve. It can’t be yours as I’ve been involved in this problem for so long” I began my confession and already Eve’s face had taken on new features. Those of astonishment.
“You lost me here Rebecca...” Her voice was losing its intensity.
“I’m going to confide something to you that no one knows, not even Dominic. And I’m doing it because I need you, Eve.” Her eyes widened, and she wanted to ask me a lot. She had a lot of questions. I could feel her anxiety. “I don’t even know where to start...” I continued, a bit lost, but Eve encouraged me with her eyes and finally with her words.
“My dear, I’m so good at reading people. In fact, it’s what helped me survive, even my ex-husband’s atrocities. And now I am reading you, too. And I see a restlessness that has been in your soul for some time. And if you are here with me, it means you want to break free or, simply as you said, you need my help. Keep in mind that I’ll help you whether you tell me. You’re Dominic’s Luna. And I love Dominic like my own son.”
“I understand, and I’m really flattered that you’re thinking of me that way. But I’m not as helpless as I seem” I tried to delve deeper into the explanation and hoped Eve would understand the reason for my silence. In fact, I wasn’t even allowed to do what I was about to do, but it was my decision and I was sure it wouldn’t affect the Agency.
“Okay, so if you think it’s time to be honest with me, then I’m listening”
“I will not make this conversation any longer than necessary, so I’m just going to come right out and say I’m an undercover agent.”
Those moments of silence that followed were enough to allow me to recompose myself and carry on. All the while, I was holding Eve’s gaze as she grew increasingly shocked. It was only natural that she should be. “Years ago, Tom came into my sights because of some not exactly clean business dealings. Later, I got more into the problem and went undercover. I became his fiancée only to find out what kind of environment he was in and what level his shady dealings had reached. I discovered it was more than that, like drugs, lethal weapons, human trafficking, you name it. He was operating in every illegal domain possible. It annoyed me because I didn’t know who he was working for. He kept that aspect very secret until a few weeks ago when I learned about Dominic from you and you also told me about Tom. But something still tells me Tom’s domain didn’t stop there, especially since he was under orders from someone like Zack Barnett. So now that Tom’s been killed and I’m more and more convinced that it was Zack’s doing, I’m even more determined to expand my research in that direction.”
“Rebecca, but it’s very dangerous to do this. Do you think I can let you near Zack? Or him. Do you think he’ll let you do it? Dominic won’t agree to it either,” Eve immediately interrupted me as soon as she understood how serious it was.
“You’re forgetting one very important point, Eve. I’m an agent and I’m not alone. An entire army is after him and his pack.”
“Yes, but you don’t know who you’re messing with. I mean, you know what kind of beast he is, but the rest of you know? I guess not. How will you be able to deal with a dangerous supernatural being?”
“That’s where you come in, Eve”
Maybe my background and story took her by surprise, but I had no one to turn to now. Eve knew Zack best.
“I’ll do everything I can, but I’d like to get Dominic involved. He can help us...”
“No, it’s not time yet. I wouldn’t want him to know right now. When it comes to me and my safety, Dominic can be reckless and you know that” I immediately interrupted her with the thought that for now, as much truth as I had revealed to her was enough. If she could help me with that much, it was perfect. Anything else could put the Agency in serious danger and even my life.
“Okay, calm down. We’ll see how we’re going to approach this. The way I know Zack, he must be trying to get people to help him. Few of his old pack left. And that’s because of his tyranny. The question is, where’s he getting people from?”
That was what worried me, too. Zack was a man of many surprises, and all of them were unpleasant. I didn’t know what to expect from him.
And it did not thrill me keeping Dominic at a distance, either. I felt like I was lying to him and that hurt. But it was the best I could do. His safety came first for me. And that was when it hit me.
“We need someone with guts, someone who doesn’t know Zack, and he doesn’t know that someone. Someone with a few scruples who could get close to him. We need someone to infiltrate Zack Barnett’s life and serve him up to us on a silver platter!”