Page 4 of Never Say Never

As I looked around the room, I saw each of the members of my team on the edges of their seats. This was a big case. Putting the Vitale Brother's behind bars could make or break their careers. Many of them had other divisions they wanted to be in or wanted to move up the chain to have my job when I finally retired. I knew how much this meant, and understood their anxieties.

"I know they're dangerous, and this is a hard case, but it's time for someone to bring these people to justice. This is no longer the days of cowboys and gangsters, but they seem to think it is. That shit won't fly with me." I leaned forward, my hands planted on Paul's table. "So, we're going to start destroying them from the inside out. We have an informant who I will be working with personally and only me. If their identity gets out, they would be dead in a matter of hours."

People like the Vitales were nothing new or innovative. I knew what they were. They would do anything and everything they could to protect their empire of ill-gotten gains. It was my job to put an end to that.

"Assignments will be handed out as more info comes in, but it's safe to say that this room is where the beginning of their end starts. Do not share a single piece of information with anyone outside of this room. There are ears everywhere and their pockets belong to the Vitales. If not one of the other families. All of you are here because you were extensively investigated."

"Behind our backs?" Paul tsked. "There's no trust anymore."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "There most certainly isn't. I have to be sure every man and woman on this team is beyond reproach. You almost didn't make the cut, Paul."

The laughter lightened the atmosphere of the room. Paul stared at me, his mouth open. I chuckled as I walked back toward the screen and went through the rest of the presentation that I had put together. By the time I finished, everyone had been updated on each Vitale brother from their likes and dislikes to their schedules, their friends, et cetera. Every bit of information we had, I gave to them. I knew they needed to be beyond prepared if they wanted to survive.

"We will meet up again soon," I said as I checked my watch. "Now, get out of here. It's getting late. Study up on the info that's been provided to you and know it inside and out."

"Yes, sir," a few of them called.

"You got it, boss," Paul added.

There was that smirk on his face again. I swore he never took anything seriously, but his job performance was impeccable. If he wanted to, he would be a prime example for someone who could take my job. Paul's only downfall was his addiction to dating and drama. Besides that, he would be the perfect agent. If he wasn't so good, he would have been sent off long ago.

And maybe I had a soft spot for him. When I'd come onto the team seven years ago, I had been on the cusp of being forty while Paul was only twenty-eight. He'd been fresh-faced and eager back then, but every bit of the manwhore that he was now. The moment I'd met him, I'd been intrigued. Even though I had to get on his ass multiple times. Trying not to laugh because he'd decided to prank one of his fellow agents with a blow-up doll that popped out of the tiles above his ceiling was certainly a challenge. It was stupid, but I don't know why that didn't bother me with Paul.

"Boss," Paul said as he wandered over to me after the last of the agents filed out. "This is a big case. Are we sure about this?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He frowned. "I mean, don't you want me heading it up? Can't I be your number two?"

I groaned. "There is no number two."

"There's always a number two with these things. Come on, I'll behave."

I gathered my things. "I don't think you even know what that word means."

"Show up on time, don't say anything crazy, listen to the boss." He ticked off his fingers as he listed things that were purely common sense. "Come on, please? Hey, if I suck at it, I'll owe you a drink. What do you say?"

I paused as he planted himself firmly in my path. Sighing, I ran a hand over my short hair and shook my head. Paul had been trying to ask me out since the moment we met, but I refused to go down that path. No superior should ever date their subordinate. Or fuck them. Or ogle them when they weren't looking.

Keep it together, York. Not this shit again.

"What I always say, Paul. No. Now, get out of my way before I find a stack of paperwork for you to do, and you can't replace Tracy."

He grabbed his black shirt and tugged. "Words hurt, boss! They hurt! Come on, don't treat me like everyone else here. I'm not just some cheap lay."

I raised a brow. "From what I've heard, that's exactly what you are."

The words had barely left my lips before I realized that I'd gone too far. Paul's sex life was absolutely none of my business. In fact, it was often a source of entertainment for me and a few headaches. Mostly, he handled himself and his issues well. I shouldn't be inserting myself into his life.

"Sorry," I muttered.

Paul grinned. "Ah, no worries. I know you don't mean it." He chuckled, but something sparked in his eyes, a look that I couldn't quite place. "You should head home. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes, first thing. Don't be late."

He turned on his heels and waved a hand nonchalantly. "No promises."

As I watched him go, the knot in my stomach loosened. I laid a hand on it. For some reason, whenever Paul was around, that feeling persisted. I equated it with some stupid desire to see him naked and left it at that.