"You're making excuses."
"I'm being rational."
"You're being compromised." Stone's voice dropped even lower. "Reid Bauer warned us. Russo family sent someone. She's from New York. The timing is too perfect. And now you're—" He gestured toward where I'd been staring at Julia. "You're doing whatever that is."
"I'm aware of the risks."
"Are you? Because from where I'm standing, you're about to make the same mistake that gets people killed in our business."
"What mistake?"
"Trusting someone because you want to sleep with them."
The bluntness stung because it was true.
"I haven't—"
"Yet. But you will. And when you do, she'll have you exactly where she wants you."
I wanted to argue. Wanted to tell Stone he was wrong, paranoid, seeing threats that didn't exist.
But I couldn't.
Because part of me wondered the same thing.
"Keep watching her," I said finally. "But don't interfere. I need to know the truth."
"And if the truth is she's here to kill you?"
"Then we deal with it."
Stone studied me for a long moment. "You're going to get hurt. Maybe literally."
"Probably."
"And you're doing it anyway."
"Yeah. I am."
Stone shook his head, picked up his plate. "Then I'll be ready to clean up the mess."
He walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
And my gaze drifting back to Julia.
∞∞∞
An hour later, after everyone had cycled through to say goodbye to Barbara, I found Julia alone in the break room.
She was washing dishes. Her suit jacket draped over a chair. Sleeves rolled up.
Something about the domestic gesture caught me off guard.
"You don't have to do that," I said from the doorway.
She jumped slightly, turned. "Oh. I didn't hear you come in."
"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you."
