Page 97 of Xavier

Jordan’s voice interrupts my mental plan. “I know this might be hard to hear, but I’m going to say it, anyway.”

He glances at Brianna, who is now stretched out on one of his loungers.

I stare at him, waiting for him to tell me something I’m not going to like. It wouldn’t be the first time, and I doubt it’s going to be the last.

He doesn’t speak.

The longer his eyes stay on Brianna, the more the anger builds inside of me. “Well, spit it out already.”

Jordan meets my gaze and says, “Fuck the job.”

That is not what I was expecting to hear. “What?”

“You heard me. Fuck the job. Don’t worry about catching these guys. Let John, or Issac, do his job. You’re a civilian now, and you need to act like it.”

I interrupt him. “Meaning what?”

How is a civilian supposed to act?

“Fall in love, settle down, buy a house, and have a family. You don’t need to run ops trying to catch the bad guys. Let the cops handle it.”

I roll my eyes, earning a chuckle from Jordan. “They’re incompetent. How many lives need to be put in danger before the cops do their damn job?”

“Normally, I’d say do it. Make a plan and finish the job, but it’s clear as day that the woman out there loves you and you love her. Don’t fuck it up because you have something to prove.”

Biting my tongue, I clench my jaw and take a deep breath as I stare at him. My muscles flex as the anger threatens to explode.

He’s a great friend, but that won’t stop me from speaking my mind.

He stares at me, his expression unwavering as he crosses his arms.

We’re stuck like this, in a stare off. Neither one of us is willing to back down.

It’s intense, and if the situation were different, I might have backed down already, but not this time. Not when it comes to Brianna.

I can’t- no, won’t- rely on others to keep Brianna safe. Not after everything I’ve had to deal with in the past. And Jordan, of all people, should know not to even suggest I consider that option.

Reaching into my pocket, I grab my phone and call John.

As soon as he answers, I bark out, “Do you have any information?”

“I’m waiting for a background check to come back, but a generic hit came back with ties to the same cartel that you were eliminating six years ago.”

It feels like all the blood has drained from my face. My heart races and my breathing becomes ragged. Adrenaline surges inside my chest.

Julia.

Just thinking about her makes my heart constrict with pain. If this is all tied to Julia, then why would they threaten Brianna and her family?

Are they trying to get back at me?

Or is John somehow involved in all of this?

“Send the background checks over to Jordan as soon as they come in. I have a plan. It’s a bit in the gray area, but I’m going to need your help in covering this up.”

John sighs, but says, “I’ll do anything to keep my baby girl safe, you know that. But I may need help in return.”

“As long as there’s no jail time for either of us, then I’ll help in any way I can.”

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