Twenty years after working with Gianni and Kinley, Agent Fin O'Clery runs into their daughter, Ripley Esposito, and finds out she is involved in an abusive relationship with a dangerous man. While fighting tooth and nail to get the much needed evidence to put him away, Fin finds himself falling deeper and deeper into a bond with Ripley. One which may just cost him everything he holds dear. Meanwhile, while worrying about his little sisters downward spiral, Renato Esposito has his own problems to deal with. Like the fact that his father can't accept his partner, Sloan O'Clery, who just so happens to be the daughter of Noah who was once a rival to the Esposito family. Follow the two new generations of Esposito's as they navigate their world and their romances to find out if love will prevail.
View More-RIPLEY-There was a knock at the door and Bobby got it.I was sitting on the sofa and my eyes widened when I saw Hilton walk in.His nose area was black from bruising."What the hell happened to you?" Bobby asked.I held my breath, I was sure it had to do with a certain FBI agent."I had a run in with a perp. Nothing major."I breathed out in relief, I was worried he would mention Fin.But my relief turned to panic when Hilton's eyes landed on me."I was hoping I could have some time with Ripley."My stomach dropped.Bobby smiled, "Of course. The guest room is open."Hilton shook his head, "No, I was hoping to take her elsewhere."Bobby turned to me, "We have that shipment coming in tonight. Suppose I won't need her."My stomach churned, "Bobby-""Go with him, Ripley."I got to my feet, my legs trembling beneath me as I followed Hilton to his car.I got in and discreetly held my phone next to my thigh. I was tempted to call Fin.But then Hilton got in."Don't look so panicked. I have
-FIN-My blood boiled as I walked into the police station. I walked through with my mind on the goal - which was Hilton.I slammed the door open and he looked up in surprise, but his frown turned into amusement, "Let me guess, you want more information about Ripley."I narrowed my eyes as I stormed toward him.My lips were in a tight line while my jaw tensed and my brows knitted."O'Clery?" Hilton's voice came out pitched and shaky.I reached over his desk, grabbing hold of his collar, "What did you do to her?" I pulled him over the desk, "Don't even try to lie."His eyes held fear, even though he tried to act calm, "Calm down. You're -"I shoved him into the wall, "I asked you a question, Hilton.""I have no idea what you're talking about."I punched him, my bruised knuckles ached in protest, "Do you really want to play this game?"Hilton smirked, "You've come in here and assaulted me. Do you know how easy it will be for me to go to your superiors?""Yes. And if you do that, I have a
-RIPLEY-"Has he told you who we're meeting?" I asked, looking over at Fin."He gave me an address and a code name."I chewed at my nails, I was beginning to feel anxious, I wasn't sure if it was due to the drugs leaving my system or if it was because I wasn't sure what Fin was planning."Fin?""Yes?""You have to let this play out how it's meant to. Don't go losing your shit.""How about you let me handle this?"I sighed, "If you handle it, we might both end up dead." I snapped back.His jaw tightened but he said nothing.I reached for my bag."No.""Fin, I can't do this sober."He moved in a flash, snatching my bag and flinging it out thewindow of the moving car.My mouth dropped in surprise, "What the hell?!""We can talk about that later. We're here."I turned to look at the hotel, it was fancy. It was always fancy. Even with so many scumbags in it.Fin got out of the car and I followed him.We stepped into the lift together and he pressed the '16' button."Any idea who this guy i
-RIPLEY-I sat in the hotel, staring out the large window up at the stars. This was the first time I was dealing with rejection and it felt strange.I was questioning whether there was something wrong with me. And I wasn't sure if I was hurt by the rejection, or if it was only because my ego took a knock.But there was something about Fin rejecting me that made me feel off.It bugged me and hurt me more than it should have."Rip." Fin's voice pulled me from my thoughts."What?" I turned to look at him."Are you okay? You've been quiet since we got back.""Of course I'm okay. I get rejected every second day, it's the norm." My voice dripped with more sarcasm than I would have liked.He frowned, "I didn't reject you, Ripley."I raised my brow, "Really? You don't think that counts as rejection?"He sighed and came over to sit beside me, "Ripley, it's not a rejection. I'm not going to take advantage of you."I rolled my eyes, "I came onto you. How is that taking advantage?""You're drunk.
-RIPLEY-"You don't have to stare at me like that. I'm not going to suddenly sprout a second head." Fin had been staring at me since I took a seat and it was annoying me."Sorry, I'm just trying to figure you out. There are so many things that I don't understand.""And it's better that way, Fin."He sipped on his drink and I awkwardly looked around the hotel room. "So, what now?" I asked in an attempt to break the silence."Now we talk. I want to know more.""About?""You.""Next."He laughed, "Okay, about Bobby."I sighed, "Where do I even start? You know what he's about.""Yes, I want to know how you ended up in all of this.""You're circling back to me, Fin. Don't.""Sorry. So how about you talk about what you're okay with me knowing?"I narrowed my eyes at him, "You just don't give up, do you?""Giving up isn't something I know how to do.""Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you're going to have to give up on this one."He got to his feet, walking over to me, "No. Ripley, you'
-RIPLEY-I sipped on my drink, ignoring the conversation going on between Bobby and Fin.And trying to ignore the glances Fin was shooting in my direction. Before leaving for dinner, Bobby had been all too happy to shove drugs in my direction, so my mind was fuzzy. Which helped in this situation.I could forget about Faith and the fact that I left her all alone in the care of strangers. I could almost ignore what a terrible person I had become over the years.When I was high enough, I was a different person. It made things easier."Ripley!" Bobby snapped.I looked up abruptly, "Sorry?"He clenched his jaw in annoyance, "Have you not been listening to a word I've said?"I shook my head, "Uh, no. I was a little lost in my own world. Sorry."He scoffed and turned to Fin, "Really, they're like dogs, if you don't train them, they're useless," he turned back to me, "If you had been paying attention, you would realize your expertise is required."I frowned, "My what?"He sighed, "Fin and I
•RIPLEY•I knew better. I knew better than to get sucked up into those kind and caring eyes.Yet, despite all of that, I could feel myself getting sucked in.Bobby was the dark and cruel reality, while Fin was the soft whispered promise of a fantasy."What are you thinking about?" Fin asked, pulling me from my thoughts."A lot of things." We were sitting in the rose garden in my parent's yard, it was secluded enough to give just the right amount of privacy.The sun was starting to set and the sky was a lovely hue of yellow and grey, the moment right before the blue sky turned black for the night.He bumped my shoulder with him, "I need to go soon. Can I drop you off somewhere?"I shook my head, I didn't want to be seen driving around with Fin. If Bobby found out about it, I would be in deep trouble."Will you be joining us tonight?" He asked."I think so. Bobby likes to show me off when he's dealing with business.""Why do you put up with him?"I shrugged, honestly, I wasn't sure mys
•FIN• I glanced around the yard, trying to find Ripley but I hadn't seen her or Sloan here yet. Gianni was speaking to Kin near the pool, Renato was here, and so were Luca and his family. Kinley was speaking to Luca's wife, whose name I could never remember. Upon our arrival I mingled a bit before getting a drink, hoping I would see my niece and Ripley arriving. Getting agitated, I pulled my phone out and sent Sloan a text asking where she was. I didn't particularly like that she was going to pick Ripley up given that she would probably have to see Bobby. Glancing at the time on the phone I realized that I still needed to go and meet with Bobby later that night. Sloan walked in a few minutes later with Ripley and I could immediately tell that Ripley was on something. I watched as her parent's faces lit up with joy at their daughter's presence and Ripley held onto them in tight hugs with a bright smile of her own. I was in awe at how beautiful she looked when she smiled, her f
•SLOAN• It was just one of those days when I was feeling miserable. After having coffee with Ripley and going to see my Uncle Fin, I thought I would start to feel better. But it had only made me feel worse. When Renato and I first began our relationship, Ripley was the first of his family to know. And she had her brother's back and welcomed me with open arms. She made me feel like I had a sister. And somehow through everything, I turned my back on her which left me feeling guilty. How could I have been such a terrible friend? And what was worse was that if Fin hadn't asked me about her, I probably never would have reached out again. I was a horrible person for that and I began to wonder if Gianni's dislike for me was maybe a little bit of karma. I needed Renato. I pulled my phone out of my pocket as I opened the front door of my apartment, but I gasped and stood frozen in my spot. The living room was filled with balloons, along the floor and the ceiling. In the middle of it,
This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.•RIPLEY•Being the only daughter of Kinley and Gianni Esposito had been tough.My father was a strict man, and although he raised both my brother and me with a strict set of rules, I always felt as if I got it a little worse.When I took the job with Captain Hilton, all hell broke loose."This job will end badly for you." My father had told me.But, of course, I didn't listen.I thought I could do it, I thought I could go undercover as an informant and get the information needed on the bad guys.What I didn't realize was that these people were not small fry.They were as bad as my father had been, some were worse.It's what started it all, really. My undoing.I sat in my tight, t
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