Lifeline

Shaking my head lightly, I turn away from JJ and head back toward our table.

I can’t risk losing what we have. I’d rather have JJ as my ride or die, my partner, than not have her in my life at all.

I’m not much of a drinker, but the moment we’re sitting at the table again, I wave a waiter closer and order a glass of wine for JJ and whiskey for myself to take the edge off.

Just as I’ve taken a sip of the drink, Kelvin and Ally come toward us. JJ gets up to hug them both, and like a possessive lover, I count the seconds while she’s in Kelvin’s arms.

“Thank you for coming,” Kelvin says as we shake hands.

“Congratulations,” I murmur.

“It’s a beautiful wedding,” JJ compliments them, then she gushes over Ally, “You look breathtaking.”

“I swear, I almost didn’t make it to the aisle. I couldn’t stop crying,” Ally laughs. “My nerves were shot to hell.”

“I’ll probably react the same way on my wedding day,” JJ says. My eyes snap to her, and I almost growl at the thought of her marrying some fucker who’s not me.

“It’s a bride’s right to get emotional,” Ally says before looking at Kelvin as if he’s her entire universe.

What I’d give to have JJ look at me like that.

When the bride and groom move on to the next table of guests, JJ leans into me. “Want to leave?”

She doesn’t have to ask me twice. I need a break from all these fucking emotions. “Yeah.” I grab my jacket, and placing it over her shoulders, I guide her through the reception area.

Once we’re both seated in my car, and I steer us away from the venue, JJ says, “Thanks for coming with me.”

I shoot her a smile. “You’re welcome.”

“I would’ve died of boredom if it was just me. The other couple at our table wasn’t my kind of people.”

“Anytime you need a partner for an event, just say the word.”

Surprise flutters over her face. “You won’t mind?”

“Of course not. I’ll always have your back.”

A happy grin tugs her lips up. “Same goes for you. I’m on standby whenever you need a partner.”

PART 2

UNDERCOVER

Chapter 9

O’Brien

Four months later.

Sitting in a bar, I’m nursing a beer. JJ’s to my right, looking like a fucking porn star where she’s throwing darts with Rossi.

Finch is outside with the chief, waiting on my signal to breach.

We all have eyes on Hoxha and Kurti, the two low-level soldiers we plan on bringing in. Once we have them in custody, we’re hoping to learn where the Bregu brothers are hiding. The need to stop their reign of terror in New York surges through my chest.

I take a sip of the beer, casually glancing at JJ. Most of the men in the bar have their eyes glued to her ass, covered in nothing more than a slip of denim, the skirt way too fucking short. Her tank top’s see-through, exposing the red bra she has on.

Fuck, she looks sexy.

JJ’s burrowed her way under my skin and deep into my heart.

So fucking deep.

I don’t even bother lying to myself anymore. I love her more than life itself. But I keep my feelings for her buried deep, not wanting to fuck with what we have.

My gaze turns back to Hoxha and Kurti. They’re celebrating something, four girls sitting at their sides. It takes another twenty minutes before the men are drunk as fuck.

“Now,” I mutter.

“Breaching,” the chief replies.

JJ and Rossi leave the dartboard and make their way toward the two Albanians. Feeling calm from years of doing this job, I get up, and reaching behind my back, I pull out my Glock.

Kurti locks eyes on me, and the next second he darts up, his weapon coming into view as the chief and Finch rush into the bar, yelling, “FBI.”

Patrons start to scream, and bodies move, causing a moment of chaos. I don’t have a clear view of the Albanians until some of the people move out of the way.

Seeing Kurti’s barrel trained on me, my hand flies up, but it’s too late. A body slams into my side, and I lose my footing as two shots ring through the establishment.

I get a face full of blond hair before JJ pushes away from me, her gun trained on the table where Hoxha and Kurti are.

My eyes dart toward Kurti, only to see him lying on the floor, sputtering through his last breath. Finch drops down beside the Albanian, starting CPR while Rossi and the chief subdue Hoxha, who’s shouting obscenities.

Slowly, I climb to my feet, taking in the scene.

Chief locks eyes with me then nods toward JJ. “Get JJ out of here.”

JJ’s face is pale as fuck as she glances back at me, her breaths exploding from her lips. Then I notice she’s looking past me. I follow her line of sight and see the hole in the wooden panel right where I was standing.