Chapter 19 #2
“Mmm… like nine years, I think? He graduated from the academy when he was twenty-six or something? He was in the same class as my cousin.”
“Your cousin’s also a fed?” I snort. “Is your whole family in law enforcement?”
Gigi shrugs. “Both my dad and uncle were sergeants in the Marines. My mom was also in the army. So yeah, basically. When I was younger, I thought about joining the military, but my dad said I was too bratty, and I’d probably get dishonorably discharged on my first tour.”
I lift a brow. “And the FBI allows for brattiness?”
Gigi smirks. “To a degree.”
I chuckle, playing with the left over salad leaves on my plate. “Fair enough.”
Gigi’s gaze flits around my contemplative features. “Why’d you ask about Kane?”
I swallow. “No reason, just curious.”
Gigi reclines into the tattered booth, drink in hand.
“I double-checked with the DC Field Office, by the way. You know, after our talk a while back. And Kane definitely requested a transfer. Granted, we needed the help. We reached a dead end on the Whipper murders.” I cast her a judgmental look.
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, I know, okay? But it’s a catchy name.
I’m sure it’ll go down in the history books.
” I shake my head, but she brushes past my distaste.
“Anyway, they were going to get Fitz to lead the investigation after Reese, you know—” She winces.
“Sorry, I’m sure you hate hearing his name. ”
I wave her off. “It’s fine. I’m not triggered by a name.”
Gigi sighs, “So yeah, then Kane joined our team.”
“I see.” I nod slowly. “Do you, uh… Are my books required reading for your department?”
Gigi blinks. “Your books?”
I wince. “Yeah, my books. Like The Mind of a Killer.”
Gigi chuckles, but it’s not a ridiculing sound. “Our budget barely allows for decent coffee, Saf. They’re definitely not going to fund extracurricular reading. We have a few of your academic papers on file for review, but that’s about it.”
I chew the inside of my cheek. “Oh.”
“Why?” Gigi asks, dissecting my every twitch, trying to unlock something I’m not ready to share. Something that will not only unravel my life but his.
I open my mouth to answer, but a shadow falls over the table, cutting me off mid-thought. I tilt my head up to meet the person standing above us.
Preston Crawford.
Mr. Blind Date. My stomach twists.
What is he doing here?
“Safia.” He gives me a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his neck. “I, uh, didn’t hear from you, so...I may have reached out to your brother.” His smile turns a little more uncomfortable. “Amir might’ve mentioned you’d be here.”
I can feel Gigi’s gaze boring into the side of my head, but I can’t look at her.
“Oh,” I manage to say, forcing a tight-lipped smile. “Well, that’s… flattering.”
Preston chuckles softly, still standing by the edge of the booth, awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other. “I just wanted to say,” he pauses, glancing at Gigi, “I’d love to take you out again, Safia. If you’re interested.” Another pause. “Are you?”
I blink, the air thickening around us. Before I can respond, another voice cuts through the bar, smooth as velvet.
“Yes, Safia, are you?”
My spine seizes at the sound, and my gaze flicks over Preston’s shoulder and lands on Theo. He’s wearing a leather jacket with dark sunglasses perched on his face. Slowly, with deliberate intent, he pulls them off.
“Well?” Theo’s voice drips with a challenge as he steps closer, a predatory gleam in his gaze. “Answer the man, Dr. Hadid.”
I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest. Dread settles on my shoulders.
I glance at Preston. “I-I’ll, um...”
Preston’s gaze softens as if sensing my discomfort.
“It’s fine,” he says gently, reaching into his pocket.
He pulls out a business card and slides it across the table.
“I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” He gives me a warm, understanding smile, his eyes flicking toward Theo for a brief second before settling back on me.
“But please, call me. I’d love to see you again. ”
Without another word, Preston offers Theo a curt nod and walks away.
The silence between me and Theo is stifling. He watches me, expression unreadable.
Before I can even begin to formulate a response, Gigi clears her throat and stands, grabbing her bag.
“Well, I’m just going to… head out,” she announces with an exaggerated grin. “Got a report to write and yeah.” She mouths good luck before waltzing off, leaving me with the bill.
Theo steps closer, his head tilting slightly as his gaze hardens. “You won’t be going on a date with that man.”
My mouth opens, but no words come out.
“You will not,” Theo repeats with a smug confidence, “be going on any date with any man.” His lips curl into a devious smirk. “If you want romance, Dr. Hadid, all you have to do is ask.”
A laugh escapes me, soft and unsteady, but somehow it breaks through the tension. “Are you going to romance me, Agent Kane?”
Theo’s smirk deepens as he slips his sunglasses back on.
“Tonight,” he says in a gravelly tone. “Wear something pretty.”