“Letmegetthe check.”
The waitress blushed crimson and nodded, her eyes skirting mine before she ran away to get my bill. Jesus.
Cool condensation stuck to my hand as I palmed my glass of frivolously chosen, expensive rum. Vacation didn’t officially kick in until tomorrow, but a drink or two on the clock for me was the equivalent to everyone else’s cup of coffee.
Dark. Acidic. Terrible for you.
Fuck, I loved it.
My phone on the table lit up, flashing with warning to put the alcohol down. Sighing, I exchanged my drink for my phone.
“Sir?”
“Reyes. How’s that LA heat treating you?” Agent Avery’s voice came over the phone a shit ton more cordial than usual. I glanced out over the ocean about a hundred feet in front of me, squinting as the sun pierced the water.
“It’s hot, Sir. Very hot.”
“It can be brutal there, that’s for damn sure.”
An apprehensive tether to his voice plucked my curiosity. SAC Avery wasn’t the type of boss to ask about the weather. Special Agent in Charge meant he was the type to give you orders and rip you a new one if you didn’t follow them. Then he’d tell you to get the hell out of his office.
Something was up.
“Listen, I need a favor while you’re there, and I’d appreciate your discretion over it.”
Here we fucking go.
“My daughter’s been picked up by LAPD. I’ve already called in a few favors of my own and gotten her charges dropped. I just need you to swing by there and pick her up, bring her back to Quantico with you.”
Running my hand down the scruff of my beard, I sat back in my chair. The perks of being the daughter of a high-ranking FBI agent, I supposed. She fucks up, daddy fixes it, and my day gets ruined.
The circle of privilege was fucking nauseating.
“Sir, if her charges were dropped, why do you need me to pick her up?”
“She’s hard to peg down these days. I need to have a word with her in person regarding an issue of importance.”
Out of the corner of my eye, my blushing waitress set my bill next to my empty plate—along with a napkin with a phone number and a heart scribbled in cursive on it. Flashing my eyes up, I caught her cheeks burn red again as she batted a wink at me.
Someone found their courage.
She left my table, walking away with a sway to her hips that said she knew I was watching her go and hoped I liked the view. And I did. I really did. Her ass was shaped like the heart she drew on the napkin, and I could think of about seven different things I could do with it tonight if I didn’t have to leave and pick up SAC Avery’s daughter.
“With all due respect, my vacation week starts tomorrow,” I tried, shifting in my seat as my waitress disappeared around a corner.
“So push it back a couple days.”
I hadn't had a day off in four months, but sure. Why the fuck not just drag it back a few more? “What’s her name?”
“Scarlett. She’s a spirited thing though, so be prepared.”
Fucking perfect.
“Noted.”
“I appreciate your willingness and discretion, Reyes. I’ll call over and let them know you’re on the way.”
And then the line cut dead.