Lifeline

“Yeah. I’ll meet you at Costa’s.”

“I’m heading home. If I’m not there to make sure Jordan does his homework, it will never get done,” Rossi says as she goes to collect her bag from her desk. “Don’t drink too much.”

“Eric, you coming?” I ask our technical analyst.

He shakes his head. “I have a date with Bianca.”

My eyebrows fly up. “Bianca? What the hell did I miss?” Eric’s not the most outgoing person, and he’s been single for longer than I’ve known him.

“Eric met the woman of his dreams on a coffee run for us,” Briggs fills me in. “She’s sweet as pie.”

I pull my arm away from Briggs’ shoulders and move closer to Eric, giving him a pat on the shoulder. “Good for you.”

“She’s amazing. You’ll meet her at the BBQ,” he says with a wide grin.

“Right. I forgot about that. When is it again?”

“Six weeks,” Eric answers.

I turn back to Briggs and Finch. “Are you coming to Costa’s?”

Finch grimaces like he’s in trouble, then he shakes his head. Briggs shoots a glare his way. “We have wedding invitations to write because someone was too lazy last night.”

I let out a chuckle. “Two months undercover and no one’s going to have a drink with me,” I mutter, shaking my head at my team.

“I don’t have any plans,” JJ says, quickly shrugging on her jacket and actually looking eager.

Fuck.

Either she’s put me on a pedestal, or her nerves are fucked from it being her first day on the job. I hope it’s the latter.

Knowing I can’t just ignore her existence, I grumble, “Let’s go.” Turning my attention back to my other team members, I greet them with a chin lift before heading out of the office.

JJ’s right behind me, her steps so fucking fast it sounds like she’s jogging, and I slow down. Glancing over my shoulder, I ask, “How was your first day?”

“Not what I expected.” She catches up to me, and again, I notice the top of her head barely makes it to my shoulder. “I’m taking it as a win that I didn’t get shot and didn’t fire my weapon.”

“Definitely a win, seeing as you had your weapon pointed at me.”

She gives me a sheepish look that’s cute as fuck. “Sorry about that.”

I press the button for the elevator and then catch JJ’s eyes locked on my face. “You have something to say?”

The doors slide open, and we step inside while a wide smile spreads around her mouth. “I’ve heard you’re the best at organized crime.”

I wouldn’t go as far as to say that. I just take pride in giving my job my all.

When I don’t respond, JJ continues, “Even though I’m assigned as a behavioral analyst, I’d like to learn everything I can about organized crime.”

“I’m not the mentoring type,” I mutter as the doors open to the underground parking area.

My comment does nothing to kill the smile on JJ’s face. I’m starting to think I should’ve gone home for some much-needed shut-eye instead of heading to Costa’s with her.

Chapter 2

JJ

Wanting to make a better impression than yesterday, I walk into the Federal building a whole hour early.

I had two drinks with O’Brien and our Chief before they called it a night.

Two very uncomfortable drinks.

O’Brien was annoyed after I told him I wanted to learn from him, and in hindsight, I realized my eagerness was to blame. I came on way too strong, considering he’d just been undercover for two months and most likely needed to decompress.

Stupid, JJ.

It also didn’t help that I screwed up yesterday. God, it’s probably going to take a while before I can get into O’Brien’s good graces. If ever.

Walking into the Organized Crime Unit’s office space, I think I’m the first to arrive until I see O’Brien up in the chief’s office through the glass partitioning. They’re deep in conversation. Then O’Brien glances in my direction, and I feel the force of his impenetrable gaze like a punch to my gut, making unwanted butterflies erupt in my stomach.

Chief Archer’s attention turns to me, and I wave awkwardly, instantly regretting the action.

Ugh.

Dropping my bag in one of the drawers, I sit down on the chair and stare at the mostly empty desk.

You waved?

Shaking my head, I switch on my computer and key in my user ID and password. I check my emails, seeing a couple from trainees I befriended at Quantico.

I open one from Kelvin, who ended up in Cyber Crime.

How was your first day?

Letting out a soft chuckle, I reply, ‘I pretty much screwed myself. How was yours?’

A file hits my desk, startling the shit out of me. My eyes snap up, colliding with O’Brien’s intense gaze, then he pulls a chair closer and takes a seat.

Having him sitting near me makes me feel nervous as hell, and I have to suppress the urge to fidget.