Lifeline

“Lindsay made it. She said you just have to let her know if you want anything specific.”

My gaze drifts to JJ while I take a bite of the sandwich. Chewing slowly, I watch as she struggles to open her bottle of juice. Reaching over, I take it from her, twist the cap off, and hand it back.

“Thank you.” Her eyes touch on the juice, the sandwich, the monitor, and every other fucking surface. But not my face. Since the kiss, she’s been limiting eye contact.

When I’ve finished half the sandwich, I rinse it down with the juice, then settle my gaze on her face. “I might be wrong, but you seem uncomfortable since the kiss. It was to keep cover, but if I overstepped, I’m sorry.”

Her eyes dart to mine, and she swallows hard on the half-chewed bite. “I’m fine and totally get it was for cover.”

“Then why are you uncomfortable?”

She takes a deep breath making her breasts strain against the tank top she’s wearing, but her expression remains unreadable. “I wouldn’t say I’m uncomfortable. I’m just cautious. I want to make a good impression.” She shrugs. “You’re close with the chief.”

Irritation skitters down my spine. “You think I’ll snitch on you?”

She quickly shakes her head, her eyes widening slightly. “No, that’s not what I said.” A sigh that sounds close to miserable drifts over her lips. “You’re the one person I really want to learn from, and I don’t want to mess up the chance you’ve given me. If I do a good job and impress you, then I assume I’ll make a good impression with the chief.”

As I stare at JJ, she finally drops the fucking mask, showing me how vulnerable she feels.

Her shoulders slump, and she lets out a heavy breath, then tugs her bottom lip between her teeth. “I just don’t want to mess things up, and it’s hard getting a read on you, so I don’t know what will upset you.”

I glance at the monitor, making sure there’s nothing we should be paying attention to before turning my gaze back to her. Leaning forward, I rest my forearms on my knees and press my fingertips to each other. Choosing my words carefully, I say, “Unless you fuck up severely, like pointing your gun at me again, I’m not going to lose my shit.” Our eyes dance together for a moment, and it feels as if I’m nudging the line drawn between us. “Relax, JJ. I’m not a bomb that’s going to detonate if you speak your mind.”

The corner of her mouth lifts a little. “And if I try to get to know you?”

Giving her a grin, I let out a chuckle. “Don’t push your luck.”

She pulls a cute face, her eyes big and pleading. “You have to give me something to work with. What upsets you? What sets you at ease?”

“I’m private, so if people dig into my personal life, I get upset. Silence sets me at ease.”

“Got it.”

She keeps staring at me until I mutter, “Spill it.”

“Silence makes me nervous.”

The corner of my mouth twitches. “I didn’t say you have to keep quiet. What I meant was silence helps me recharge at the end of the day.”

A mixture of eagerness and satisfaction lights up her eyes. “Can I ask you one question?” When I nod, the radiant smile I haven’t seen since I kissed her returns. “What’s the hardest case you’ve had and why?”

“That’s two questions,” I tease her, turning my gaze back to the monitor. “This case and because I have to do surveillance with you and you’re distracting.” There’s no bite to my voice, and the answer makes JJ chuckle, the sound reminding me of bubbles floating in the air on a summer’s day.

Some of the tension has eased, making me glad I addressed the elephant in the room.

“We’ve got movement,” JJ says, her eyes on the monitor. We watch as Berisha, Idrizi, and Troka enter the establishment.

Narrowing my eyes, I have to focus on separating their voices from the other patrons.

Looking a little concerned, JJ asks, “Do you understand Albanian?”

“I’m fluent.”

She nods, turning her attention back to the monitor.

“They’re discussing Kurti and Hoxha, concerned that the two new men are spending more time at a bar than at work,” I translate for JJ. “They’re too reckless and drawing attention.” I close my eyes and focus harder when someone at a table near theirs places an order. “Zef Rama…” I frown, zoning everything but their voices out, “he wants them to prove their loyalty.” My breaths slow from the concentration it takes. “Next month, they’re bringing in a shipment of girls. It will be Hoxha and Kurti’s responsibility.”

The meeting ends abruptly, and I take a deep breath as I open my eyes, only to find JJ staring at me.

“If Hoxha and Kurti’s drawing unwanted attention, it might be easy to take them down,” she mentions.