Page 90 of My Vigilante Valentine

I flicked him. “Like I’d let you get rid of me.”

Jax, still casually holding me hostage in his arms, let out a low, amused noise. “I will say this much—” He sighed. “Having backup isn’t... awful.”

I gasped dramatically. “Be still my heart.”

Jax kissed my temple like it was nothing, and Chris made an actual gagging sound.

We spent the next hour chilling in that parking lot—snacking on the cookies I’d been sure to pack for the mission—in full planning mode. Chris had ideas for better camera placement, I suggested blind spots we’d missed, and Jax… well, Jax actually listened.

The guy who “worked alone” was actually letting us in.

Chris finally shut his laptop with a click. “Not bad for our first time in the field. Though, next time, maybe skip the post-battle PDA? Some of us are trying to work here.”

“Oh, are we on the clock?” I asked, cocking my head.

Chris blinked. “No?”

Jax—who hadjuststarted to look vaguely entertained—nodded. “Didn’t think so. Shut up, Gremlin.”

Chris groaned, throwing up his hands. “Unbelievable.”

“Fine, how about Hacker Man?” Jax asked, eyeing Chris like he’d been sitting on that one for a while.

Chris perked up. “That’s actually kinda cool.”

I waved a hand. “Nah. Too obvious. I’m still Team Gremlin.”

Chris shot me a look. “You’reMenace. He’sThe Blade. And I get stuck withGremlin? How is that fair?”

I shrugged. “Meh. It’s not. But also, give me that cookie. It’s after midnight.”

He dodged me as I tried to reach for it, shoving it into his mouth in one monstrous bite. Then, when he finished choking it down, he shot me a final, teasing glare. “Well, this has been fun, but I need sleep. And tomorrow? I’ll need coffee. Lots of coffee.”

I pursed my lips. “I might know a place.”

“Ya don’t say.” Chris packed up, but he paused before getting into the van. “We’ll meet up tomorrow? Go over everything we know about the next steps with The Valentine Villain?”

Jax nodded. “Sounds good.”

I watched as Chris drove away, then turned to Jax, hands on my hips.

“Okay, but… be for real—can I jump on you again after every mission? Like a post-game ritual? Because that was great for me.”

Jax rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a weary sigh.

I winked. “That wasn’t a no.”

Was he clearly exasperated?

Yes.

But I caught the way his gaze flicked to my mouth.

“So,” I said, shifting gears before we gottoodistracted. “How does it feel to be part of a team?”

He pretended to think about it, tilting his head like he was actually weighing the pros and cons. “Loud. Chaotic. Two extra voices in my head means a lot more talking than I’m used to.”

I splayed my hand over my heart in mock offense. “Are you saying you don’t enjoy my witty commentary?”

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