Page 57 of Resurgent

I arch a brow. “The odds…of what?”

“That I’ve been paired with the woman everyone has a million questions for.”

My eyes flash to Captain Lin, who looks five seconds away from pulling the plug on my assignment.

Taking the team dossier from Captain Lin’s hands, pushing it hard into his chest.

“The only questions you’re going to be asking are about the operation. Now, start reading over our mission details, and don’t forget, I’m the lead this weekend.”

Theo immediately places a hand over the envelope, clenching it to his heart. “Thank the Gods. I’ve heard what happens when people let Delta recruits make decisions unsupervised.”

“You are a Delta recruit,” I point out.

“Exactly. I know what we’re capable of.”

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it.

Theo notices instantly, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

Yep. Hunter was right—obnoxious.

Chapter twenty

Annalise

Theo's car engine ticks quietly as it cools, sending wisps of steam curling from the hood each time a raindrop meets the heated metal. The lazy drizzle persists, accompanied only by the hypnotic rhythm of the windshield wipers.

Theo settles deeper into the driver's seat of his luxury sedan, one hand balancing a pair of binoculars while the other points toward the glowing neon sign across the street.

"There," I say. "Third window from the left."

"Great eye, Scout," he says before raising his binoculars.

We both sit in silence watching Mattey lean against the polished wooden bar, laughing at something his partner says. The woman elbows him playfully before taking a sip of whatever she's drinking.

"They're definitely not discussing Spellcasting," he mutters.

"No, Mattey would rather chop off his arm than talk shop in a bar."

"Mattey, is it?"

"Don’t," I warn, lowering the binoculars to look at him.

A grin stretches across his face.

"Hmm. So you’re not planning to be the future Mrs. Reyes then? Not what I expected."

“What would make you expect anything? You didn’t know me until a few days ago, and Mattey said he hadn’t met you until the other day.”

“Can’t say I mind you asking around about me, but after the way he acted while you were recovering from the rock slide, everyone was saying you were caught in some love triangle. He went so crazy while you were out that people started wondering if he’d finally lost his sanity.”

“Absolutely not! We’re like family,” I say, choking on air.

Theo arches a brow. “Actually family and like family are two very different things, with completely different rules about what is and isn’t acceptable between siblings.”

I groan. “You know exactly what I meant.”

Theo’s grin turns just a shade more mischievous. “Then I guess that leaves the field wide open.”