Nina
"Torres." Paul's voice was as cold as ice and my reply was just as cold.
"Simmers." I nodded coolly. "Let's get this show on the road shall we?"
I had arrived in Vegas a few hours earlier and settled into the safe house the bureau had appointed for me. An hour ago, I had gotten a package for Simmers which included a dress, shoes and instructions of where to meet him.
I'd have thought the outfit was him punishing me if Chief Keef hadn't already briefed me about the witness demanding to meet at a public gathering.
Now, I had on the black slinky dress with the too high slit running up one side, four inch designer heels and a diamond choker around my throat. I couldn't remember when last I had gotten this dressed up. I couldn't wait to get back into my combat ready clothes.
"Act natural." Paul instructed me. "The witness already knows what we will be wearing, and should be able to identify us in the crowd. He will make first contact and as soon as he does, our priority is to get him out of here pronto."
I glanced over at him. "I know all of this Simmers, no need to mansplain it to me."
He scoffed. "Why am I not surprised, Torres. You always had a knack for assuming the entire world was looking down on you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing at all." He grabbed two flutes of champagne from a waiter passing by and handed one to me. "Keep your comms open. Let's start by circling the room."
"We don't need to do that. It's better if we disperse for more visibility."
He made an amused sound at the back of his throat. "Don't forget Nina, I'm the top lead on this assignment. Which means you have to follow my orders."
I narrowed my eyes at him, irritation coursing through me. Paul was still as good looking as ever, full head of sandy brown hair, deep brown eyes, sharp jaw line, tall and fit. I don't remember ever being in love with him, but I'd liked him.
"Whatever you say boss." I replied sweetly.
His eyes narrowed back at me. "I heard you got stabbed a few days back. You're not supposed to be cleared for this assignment at all. You've always been too stubborn for your own good, Nina."
"Are you going to spend the next few hours reminding me that you know me?" I asked through clenched jaw. "What happened to keeping it professional on the job."
He scoffed, eyes rolling skyward. "I'm not trying to fight with you_"
"Good, cause you won't win."
"What I'm trying to say," he continued like I had never spoken, "Is that you have a one track mind when it comes to this job. It's okay to not be a hard ass all the time. Nobody is going to respect you less because you let yourself chill out."
I gave him a withering look. "I'm respected less already just because I'm a woman in this field. The last thing I want is to lose whatever advantage I have by getting chummy with the crew."
He sighed. "That's not what I_"
"What the hell are we even doing? This conversation is baseless. Let's just get the witness and get out of here, okay?" I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm before I could disappear into the crowd.
"Running away, hunh? That's really your answer to anything that doesn't have to do with taking down the black smoke gang." He hissed, eyes hardening. "What's your obsession with them anyway? You've been hell bent on taking them down since our days at the academy."
"I told you, they're a stain on this city." I snapped.
"It's more than that." He searched my gaze. "What are you hiding, Nina?"
"That's none of your business."
"I can help you."
"Christ, Paul. Enough with this saviour complex that you have. I'm not some goddamn maiden in distress and you're no prince charming. I don't need you saving me or helping me." I tore my arm away. "We're on the job right now. This isn't the time for your damn sentiments."
"You're such a bitch." He snarled. "Has anyone ever told you that? I wonder if there's any heart at all under your chest. Or is it just a shrunken, rotten organ back there?"
"How poetic Paul." I shot him a sardonic smirk.
"I loved you." He said, freezing me in place. The anger on his face dissolved into misery and it made my chest feel so tight, like I couldn't draw enough air into my lungs. "I thought we'd_" he trailed off. "You know what, it doesn't matter. You're right, we should concentrate on the mission at hand."
Paul cleared his throat and glanced around. "Start from that corner and work your way to the center of the room. As soon as the witness identifies you, radio me."
"Paul, I_" he turned and walked away before I could say anything else. But then again, what exactly was I going to say.
Finding my sister was my priority. In fact, it was the only thing on my radar at all. I couldn't afford to entertain relationships or anything that would distract me from that.
Sighing, I walked away, making my way through the crowd of other elegantly dressed people and pretending to sip my champagne. At the corner, I leaned up against a pillar and glanced around, trying to look inconspicuous.
Just then, I felt a presence moving up behind me. I tensed, reaching for the gun strapped to my thigh.
"Drinking on the job, Agent Torres?"
That voice.
My pulse spiked.
"Santiago." I turned slightly, tension slicing through my calm. "Are you following me? What the hell are you doing here?"
"Relax, tigress." His breath brushed my ear, his body heat pressed against my back. "Wouldn't want you blowing your cover."
Before I could answer, Paul's voice crackled through my earpiece. "Torres, get your guard up. Our mission's been compromised."
Fuck.