“That boss of yours is pretty cute. You sure there isn’t something more going on there? He did take you out to lunch.” Jax wiggles his eyebrows.
“I don’t even officially have the job yet. I can assure you there’s nothing going on.” Not to mention, he’s a murder suspect who I’m supposed to be gathering evidence to convict.
“Be careful there, Nova. He looks dangerous,” he says mischievously.
I know he means a man that attractive can be dangerous, but he has no idea. Attractive and murderous is a bad combination.
“It’s good to see you, Jax. I promise I’ll be around more now that I’m home.”
Jax studies me for a moment. “You better. Also, I know something’s going on with you. You aren’t yourself. I plan on squeezing that info out of you soon. Just a warning.” He comes back around the bar and wraps me in a hug.
I press my cheek against his warm chest, finally allowing my shoulders to slump as my weight presses into him.
“You don’t have to do everything alone, you know,” he whispers into my hair.
I pull back enough to look up into his blue eyes. “I know. I know. We’ll catch up soon. I promise.”
Jax lets me go, and I make it to the door before he shouts, “I’m holding you to that!”
I smile and walk to the passenger side of Owen’s car and ease myself into the dark red, leather seats.
Owen is watching me with another one of his amused expressions.
“Do I have something on my face?” I ask, harsher than I intended.
He smirks. “No.”
With that, he peels out of the parking lot, and we head back to the office. The thought of what I’ll have to do has me feeling a little queasy, and I’m still unsure why.
Chapter 5
I’ve been stalking the target for weeks, finally tracking him down in the middle of Palermo—the largest and most populated city in Sicily. He’s walking through the market with his two main bodyguards. Others trail him, not bothering to conceal their guns as they keep their eyes alert to any threat. I can’t see them, but I expect more guards are stationed ahead. There are likely ten of them.
Ten against one.
“Nova.” The communication comes through my headphones from my new partner.
I slink behind a rack of beautifully colored summer dresses. “What do you have for me, Gray?”
“It’s too crowded. You can’t take him out here. Too many witnesses.”
“I’ve been tracking this guy foryears,Gray, and now that I have eyes on him, I’m not going to let him go.” I can’t help the frustration in my voice.
I hear Gray let out a long breath as I stick my head out to make sure I haven’t lost my target.
“Wait until he’s past the market, but don’t miss the escape location we agreed on,” he says at last.
“Copy.”
I slink out from behind the dresses, and that’s when everythinggoes to shit.
I wake, shaking and soaked in sweat. Throwing the soft, satin sheets off my body, I stand. I pace around the room for a few minutes, my bare feet pounding against the cool, wooden floors. It takes me that long to stop hyperventilating.
Looking at the clock, which reads 4:45 am, I realize there is no way I’m going back to sleep, so instead, I dress in workout gear and pack my work clothes in a garment bag, slinging it over my shoulder. My stomach is in knots, making me feel queasy, so I don’t bother with breakfast or coffee.
I decide to take up Owen on his offer to use the equipment in his office before he gets there. The CIA gym is too far away from the apartment and the office anyway. Plus, I plan to do some snooping while I clean the disgustingly dirty space.
The streets are mostly silent as I make my way to the thirty-story office building that serves as the headquarters for Regenerative Industries. I pull out my newly-made keycard and enter the silent building, slowly making my way up to the top floor, and slip into his office.
