Page 19 of The Twilight Theft

By everyone in my life.

“That’s not how connections between people work. Chemistry isn’t about similarities, it’s about magic.” He shook his head and slid to the edge of his seat, coming closer to me. “It’s something you can’t fake. It’s either there or it isn’t.”

My throat tightened. I grabbed my water bottle, rolling my eyes as dramatically as I could. Maybe that was my entire problem. I couldn’t fake anything. Words tended to fall out of my mouth before I realized I’d thought them.

That’s why I worked in the shadows. The only people who ever heard me on a job were my teammates, and they could cover for me.

A sly smile slid up his face. No doubt at my silence.

I swung my protein bar at his smug grin, but he easily dodged. “You’re such a cheeseball.”

“No.” Rav’s harsh word pulled our attention to the group at the back of the jet. “Scarlett teams with me.”

“You mean me,” said Malcolm, already on his way to join them. For someone not worried about being replaced, he worked awfully hard to ensure it wouldn’t happen. Or maybe that was the key. He’d fight for the woman he loved.

“I’m not trusting her security to anyone else,” continued Rav.

Scarlett knocked twice on the table. “Enough.”

Drew put up his hands, dipping his head slightly toward Rav. “You’ve already said you won’t allow our two teams to share comms, Rav. We need to pair up my team and yours.”

“Then you can work with Malcolm, and I’ll take Scarlett.”

“Rav?” Scarlett slipped into her command tone, no doubt highlighted by that eyebrow she learned from her mother. It sounded like a question, but it was an order.Stand down, guard dog.

They’d been friends since they were kids, and from what snatches of conversation I’d heard, something serious held them close. He was always protective of her, which had only become more intense over the last couple of months.

But watching Malcolm stand up to Rav over it? Maybe there was some truth about what he said about chemistry and not faking it. He hadn’t hesitated for a moment to declare he’d take care of her, even though Rav could have snapped him in half without a thought.

“How many of your team members will be joining us?” asked Scarlett.

“Two who’ll be working the party. My boss will coordinate.”

Scarlett nodded, pointing as she spoke. “Malcolm’s with me. Emmett and Rav will team up with your people.”

And just like that, she’d decided, leaving Emmett and Rav nodding.

But wait, that meant—

“Drew, I want Jayce with you.”

I shot up out of my chair.No.

“People in DC know you.” Scarlett was talking like I had no say in the matter. Did no one else see what a terrible idea this was? “You’ll have more reasons to be working the crowd in the banquet room, giving her a perfect excuse to monitor the chip.”

“No.” The word sounded weak coming out of my mouth. Why was I even objecting? I joined everyone around the table. “He can’t be my partner.”

Scarlett turned the eyebrow on me. “He can.”

“You remember what happened the last time?”

“We’re both professionals, Jayce.” Drew’s face held no expression. No smile, no irritation, not even a head tilt.

“Professionals worktogether, Drew. They don’t order me around and screw up our entire job. You tanked that job on me.”

At least his jaw flexed. At least he had some sort of emotion inside him. His mouth opened, but Scarlett stood abruptly.

She pointed one immaculately manicured fingertip toward the seat I’d been enjoying my snacks from, forcing me back there. Time for the reaming. At least she lowered her voice. “You remember what my mother said?”

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