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sure she was okay. Then, instead of forcing himself on her, he’d taken her to bed to cuddle. No one needed to tell her that Tony was not a man who spent time in bed just holding a woman.
    The soft snortles from Tony continued with every third inhale, and she closed her eyes briefly in relief. Then she crawled out of his room until she was halfway down the hall, and finally stood when there was no sign of Tony following her.
    She paused, listening. A soft whine came from behind the closed door on her right. She laid her hand on the door and whispered, “It’s okay, Brute. It’s me.”
    When the dog stopped, she tiptoed the rest of the way. She had to get out of here before Tony found her missing from the bed and called her on the bet they’d made. It was unfair of her to play him for a fool. He was too smart, and Darrell had set her up. Using Tony and having sex with him crossed her personal line; undercover or not, she wasn’t that type of woman.
    She found her purse in the foyer. Being careful not to make any unnecessary noises, she slipped out the front door and walked away from Tony Weston. Half a block later, she slowed her pace and retrieved her cell from her purse. She bit the inside of her lip, debating whether to keep walking and bide herself more time or call Darrell right away.
    She’d spent the night and fulfilled her job. If he asked, she could explain how Tony had to go to work and she left early. She thumped the phone against her forehead. Unless it was Kage who Darrell wanted her to sleep with, and in that case, Darrell was out of luck and she’d failed the orders. No woman would ever get between Janie and Kage.
    If only she had a way home, and could spend a few hours with her mom without Darrell finding out. She stopped near the street corner. Using the phone to call her mom earlier at Tony’s house had been a huge risk, but the chances of Darrell or one of his men tapping Tony’s home phone were slim. She’d played it safe.
    The emotional fallout from hearing her mom’s voice hit her hard. They’d survived together after her dad left, and the years of scraping to put food on their table and a roof over their heads. Together, they’d both gone on to reach their goals.
    Mary Bangli worked at Macy’s as a supervisor in charge of displaying the women’s clothing line while helping put Rocki through the academy. The only time she regretted her choice of career was last night. She gained no pleasure lying to Tony. Yet bringing Darrell to justice would earn her a solid seat among the male detectives and their respect if she succeeded in bringing down the infamous drug lord.
    She couldn’t screw up. Her life wasn’t the only one on the line and depended on her succeeding on the case, and bringing Darrell to justice. She’d do whatever it took to keep her mom safe and out of line of Darrell’s wrath if things turned ugly. Her mom meant the world to her.
    Now Tony was involved indirectly because she’d failed to accomplish her orders to sleep with him. She gathered her hair to one side and rubbed the back of her neck. She’d gotten the best night’s sleep she’d had in four months, but Darrell wasn’t concerned about her stress level.
    She glanced down the road toward Tony’s house. She’d walked far enough. No longer in view of his place, she slowed down. Guilt forced her to look away. She’d expected him to act very differently.
    He’d told her clearly they were going to have sex. She’d all but agreed, and then teased the man.
    When he took her to bed and held her, letting her cry, she jumped at the comfort he offered. For a few short hours, all the stress from the last several months eased. The only thing she wanted was his big, strong arms holding her. He never questioned the reason behind her tears or belittled her for being weak.
    He was the nicest guy she’d ever encountered. Ever.
    What kind of man sent signals of wanting sex, yet supported her when she needed him most and