Chapter 2

Kaira was contemplating her impending marriage when her phone buzzed. Her fiancé and his family will visit them over the weekend to meet with them, according to her father. She is not very excited about it, despite the fact that her father is overjoyed about it.

After reading the message, the scowl on her face that had already been left due to her thinking about her soon-to-be marriage turned into a wide smile. And from the earlier loss of interest, she suddenly turned excited.

"Who was it, exactly? Don't tell me it's who I'm thinking of," Enzo inquired. "You only change moods really quickly when it's him."

"Let's go, Enzo," she nodded, her eagerness apparent in her eyes. "There's no point in wasting time. Pace up, pretty boy," she said as she grabbed her stuff and walked out the door. 

All her cousin could do was follow her with a shrug of his shoulders. As usual, no explanations were needed because he understood where this was leading. 

The guardia del corpo instantly followed Kaira once they were out, but Enzo motioned for them to stop. "It's okay. We'll just cruise around the city. No worries; stay put while I take care of the ereditiera."

The guards acknowledged Enzo's orders with a curt bow. Considering Enzo is a part of the heiress' clan and will soon be sotto capo when Kaira steps in, he can give them commands whenever he wants to.

"Drive safely and within the speed limit, Kaira," he reprimanded as he climbed into the car. "You don't want us to be detected and get caught again, do you?" he added.

"Fine, as you say," she remarked, a smile on her face. "I'm really looking forward to this, Enzo."

"I know, Cugino, and as long as you're happy, I'll be here to support you. I know you've waited for this, and it's here now."

"I know, and I'm ecstatic," Kaira said as she drove them to their destination.

Her heart began to accelerate as she entered the complex, revealing her exhilaration and anticipation. She is optimistic that she will be given the opportunity this time to show them what she has got. 

They exited the vehicle and walked straight into the old facility, where several guys greeted them as they approached. They responded with a courteous nod and kept on walking until they reached the workplace of the person that they came to see.

When they approached the door, Kaira paused for a moment and looked at her cousin. She is trying her best to conceal the smile on her face, but she is really having a hard time doing so. 

She bit her lower lip and then tapped on the door. "Come in," said the person on the other side.

She cautiously opened up the door and walked into the room with another huff of her breath to compose herself. "Sir." She greeted him.

"Thank you for coming promptly on such short notice, Agent Ira and Agent Neo."

She said, "It's an honor to always be of service to the institution, sir."

"Sit down," the director commanded, and they both did so. "Ira, it's time now."

The three words that she has been waiting to hear all along are more than enough to make Kaira lose all her senses. The feeling of exhilaration is overcoming her, and as much as she wants to keep a straight face, she is having a hard time. She's been waiting for this, pining for this, and now it's finally her moment to shine.

"If you accomplish this assignment successfully, you will be appointed to the agency's highly classified top operative together with members of the team with you. I'm handing you this responsibility because I know you're ready. Agent Neo will support you on this mission, and I am giving you absolute control over this matter. I don't care how you do it, as long as you do it."

Because of the loud thumping of her heart, she is really not sure if she's hearing things correctly. But regardless, her desire is already within her grasp. Enzo kicks her foot lightly as she loses herself in her thoughts once more.

"Are you up for the challenge, Agent Ira? Will you take this chance to show me what you've got?"

"Yes, sir. I am as ready as I'll ever be."

"Excellent!" the director said as he handed her a document. "Your mission is to make sure that one of the largest drug cartels falls into the hands of the authorities. This organization has been linked to far too many traffickers, both in and out of the country, and their dealings are getting nasty. I'd like you to take charge of this expedition and hand me the boss in due time."

"Yes, sir, I'll be working on it. Consider this done."

Kaira is so sure of herself that she can do the job as she studies the report in her hands. Her personal dream has always been to become the country's top secret government agent. She at first believed it was unattainable because she was a mafia heiress, but she was determined to prove them all wrong. Yes, she really does have the skills, and she is a fighter, but she will not use them against the law; rather, she will use what she knows for the benefit of the law. She and Enzo are both undercover agents, concealed from her father and the rest of their family.

—

"What's the latest on the relevant data I'm looking for, Enzo? We need to speed up on this job. I want everything to be completed and done as early as possible before the marriage bullshit." As soon as she walked into the room, she started asking her cousin.

Enzo taunted, "And a happy morning to you, soon-to-be Senior Agent, Ira Amato."

Her expression changed as she started to hear Enzo mention her alias in the institution. She genuinely enjoys being referred to as a senior agent, but her joy is tainted by her desire for more. She had been looking forward to being able to use her true identity when she achieved her goals, but she knew she probably wouldn't be able to. 

She can't use Lombardi because her father's surname will surely ring a bell with the authorities. She is just lucky that her existence is not really known outside their organization to safeguard her. 

"Hey, Kai, you're back at it again. Clear your mind and don't stress about it. Sooner or later, we'll figure out some way out of these wretched circumstances that we are in, and then you'll be free to use your name, Kaira Lombardi, as you would like."

"It's not really that I don't want to use Amato, Enz. I simply want to be able to use my full name without limitations and constraints. I know it's a petty thing to start whining about, but I can't help myself. I just wish to be free."

"Kaira, we'll get there, slowly but surely. We must take it one step at a time. That patience, dear cousin, is a virtue." Enzo is Kaira's go-to guy when she's upset and depressed. And she will always be grateful to still have her dearest cousin by her side wherever she goes. Even when she chose the other path away from the mafia life, he was with her.

She then makes an effort to put aside her negative emotions about something so insignificant and focus her energy on what they must accomplish. "Any new developments in the case we're working on?" she inquired.

"Oh, of course, I just received reports from the field earlier," Enzo said, with a snap of his finger as he retrieved the folder from his side table and began flicking through the pages. "Luca Hendrix, also known as Lucio Heralde, is the head of the Heralde cartel in America. Their reach extends beyond the US markets, and they are steadily expanding into the Asian markets as well. In fact, the group might be difficult to infiltrate because of how strict their cover-up is all the time."

Kaira was deep in contemplation, attempting to digest the information from Enzo. "This will undoubtedly be more difficult than I anticipated," she murmured, growing apprehensive by the second. She was confident in her abilities before they started this assignment, but as more and more information becomes available, her confidence is eroding.

"Are you on the verge of giving up?" Enzo remarked as his gaze was drawn to his cousin, who appears to be preparing to flee the fight. "We've just begun, Kaira. Don't tell me you're chickening out just by hearing his name." He knows his cousin quite enough to discern that she is restless and doubting herself and her competence right now.

"I've just heard a few details, but it seems I'm dealing with a vastly larger group than I had expected. This is not just a simple mission."

"Uh-uh, Kai, that's where you're completely mistaken; they may be big, but the two of us combined, we're the brightest. And besides, who said it would be just a walk in the park? Certainly not, but it will be well worth all the pain and sacrifice when you achieve that rank. And, on another note, you have an easy line here," he said, his brows scrunching.

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

"There will always be a crown prince in groups like this. And, as it stands, this Luca Hendrix does indeed have a son. A charming, flamboyant heir who could be extremely useful and vital for you in penetrating their gang easily."

Kaira's face began to show a smile gradually. This is fantastic news because when guys are involved in each and every case, they can surely infiltrate with just a little swagger here and there. The three S's are all Kaira needs to do: single him out, seduce and flirt until he bites the bait, then swap sex for info. In the process, that is just another one-night stand.

"In that case, tell me a little more about the heir."

"According to the relevant data we obtained, a certain Calix Hendrix is Luca's successor and the cartel's soon-to-be leader. He's an up-and-coming race car driver who has also been dominating the news because of his shenanigans."

Kaira paused for a second as her heart began to race. She had no idea, but hearing Enzo say that the heir was a drag racer reminded her of that fateful night when she met the man she considers her salvation. Although it would be a stretch to infer anything from that description, she can't get rid of the nagging sense until she confirms it.

"Kaira! You've gotten yourself lost once more. What the hell is wrong with you?" He approaches her, who is still deep in concentration, with a furrowed forehead.

"Enzo, like, do you have a photo of the heir?" She shifted uneasily. "All I need is to see it."

As he scanned the report, Enzo became increasingly perplexed; he had no clue what was happening with his cousin's reactions, but he was convinced that there was something amiss. "Wait, let me double-check. I know the team sent the same information. Is there something wrong, Kai? Why are you acting in this manner?"

Kaira can only breathe deeply as a result of the uncomfortable tugging on her heart. Even though she cannot confirm anything yet, she is already at a loss for words.

"This is Calix Hendrix, the Heralde cartel's heir," Enzo states as he passes her the photo.

She grabbed for the picture with trembling hands, and her jaw dropped in shock as she saw the man referred to as Calix Hendrix. "Shit! What the fuck?" she screamed.

"What?" exclaimed her cousin in return to her reaction. "Don't tell me you've heard of or know him. Have you previously spent the night with him?" As he pondered these questions, reality slapped him straight in the face.

"Fuck!" Both cousins shrieked at the same time. The discovery had both of them wide-eyed and completely taken aback.

"Yes, you did! The guy at the bar! The same guy you went out with that night. That's why, when I first viewed the picture, he seemed familiar."

Kaira is merely staring in disbelief at the photograph of the man whose image is burned into her memory. She was convinced they'd never see each other again. She assumed it was the end of their sexual encounter. But it appears that fate had other plans. 

For the time being, this isn't going to just be a one-night stand. This will be much more than sex and lust for Kaira. For the foreseeable future, all of this will revolve around her and her mission, and as cruel as it may sound, she will rely on his link to accomplish it. Calix Hendrix will be her ticket into the Heralde cartel, whether he likes it or not. And she needs to do it fast, before her marriage, or else she will be doomed to fail.