She sets the menu down. “Are they people you trust?”
“Yes. I’ve worked with them before.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Does this mean you’re changing your mind?”
Jen snorts. “You’re not that good, Agent.”
“Special Agent.”
Jen waves my comment away. “Whatever. Titles don’t matter.”
I set my menu down and fold my arms over my chest. “You’re a very suspicious person, aren’t you?”
Jen lifts her head up and holds my gaze. “Can you blame me? I’ve spent the past two years on the run, and each time I get comfortable, they send someone after me.”
I clear my throat. “I’m familiar with your case.”
And I hate not being able to connect the dots.
While Jen has proven herself to be an exceptional agent, she’s had to move from one location to the next more times over the past two years than I care to admit. Having her cover blown while she was working to take down the mob from the inside was bad enough—she is lucky to have survived. Knowing that her instincts are right and someone on the inside is working against her is worse.
We need to weed them out before things got out of hand.
“So, you know the mob is still after me.” Jen sits back against the booth, and I find myself leaning forward to hear her. “Now, are you going to tell me what you know about Travis or not?”
“I’m sure you want to make them pay, Jen. Not just because of what they did to you, but because of Agent Hastings’s murder.”
Jen watches me, and for a second I lose myself in her gaze. Just for a second.
“I’m sure the FBI already has a plan in place, Matthew. I’ve already given up a lot for this job, and I don’t want to put my life in the hands of the FBI, not when they’ve given me very little reason to trust them.”
“I’d be leading the team, and this will be an off-the-books operation, so only a handful of people know. The chances of the mole finding out are slim. You’re the only one who is familiar with how the mob works, and it will be damn near impossible to put someone else in there.”
Jen tilts her head to the side and studies me.
What is it about this woman that makes me unable to look away?
Even now, as I sit across from her, she makes me feel like I am vulnerable.
And completely at her mercy.
I’ve never been more attracted to anyone in my entire life.
Jesus, McCray. You’ve been around the block enough, so pull it together.
“And what about the mob? Do you really think they’re going to let me back into their ranks and just hand over the keys to everything when they know who I am?”
“We’ll come up with a good cover story,” I reply, keeping my gaze level steady. “This is your chance, Jen to help take them down, and we can make sure the Slades are well protected.”
Jen leans back and waits for the waitress to set down our drinks before bringing the cup up to her mouth. I stare at herlips as they part and lick the cream off the top.
A jolt of desire races through me as my stomach clenches.
“You really don’t give up, do you?”
I give her a half smile. “Not really, no.”