Page 23 of Kings Against the World

I concede his point, though begrudgingly. Popping AirPods into my ears, I turn up the volume on the podcast I’m listeningto and pretend that Gallagher is a stranger who happens to have sat next to me.

The same can be said while we’re airborne. I keep my earbuds in for the entire flight ’til we’re at baggage claim in the busy Vegas airport and Gallagher plucks them out of my ear.

“Give those back!”

“Nah, don’t think I will, Special Agent. It’s show time. You ready to put on the best performance of your life? ’Cuz you’re Jade Fowley… which means you’re my girl now.” He manages to snag my suitcase off the baggage carousel all while he says this, then tosses his arm around my shoulders. “Before we head to the hotel, I’ve got a pitstop to make.”

“Pitstop? What sort of pitstop?”

No less than fifteen minutes later, after an uncomfortable taxi ride that reeks of cheap cherry air freshener, we arrive at the pitstop he spoke of.

A place called the Velocity Garage.

I arch a brow at him, cutting him a judgy sideways glance. “Is this a bike shop?”

“Sure is,” he answers proudly. “You think I was gonna be in Vegas for almost a whole month and not have a bike? C’mon, babe, you know better than that.”

“Don’t call me babe.”

“You’re one of those chicks?”

“Also, don’t call me chick.”

Gallagher’s grin is crooked, borderline charming—which is frustrating—as he tilts his head to the side as if he’s trying to figure me out. As if he finds my resistance amusing.

“Do you ever just… you know, chill?” he asks.

“Chill?” I sputter, then shake my head, folding my arms. “This is not the time tochill. This is a federal investigation you’re now a part of. Take your role as my operative seriously. But I’m warning you, I don’t play nice with others.”

“Sounds like my type of chick.”

“Call me a chick—or a babe—one more time and find out why it’s the worst mistake of your life. Iwilldrop kick you, Gallagher.”

“Definitely my kinda chick. No pain, no gain as they say. C’mon, babe. Louie’s waiting on us.” He winks at me before he sets off at a casual stroll, his hands deep in his pockets.

Pressure wells up inside me like it’s about to explode and Ialmostrelease a howl of frustration.

Gallagher’s hardly noticed. He’s already approaching the greased up man in coveralls that’s currently working on one of the motorcycles. I follow after him only once I realize I don’t have much of a choice.

I’m Jade Fowley, and so long as I’m undercover, Gallagher’s my boyfriend.

“What’s up?” Louie says, jutting his chin at me.

“Hello,” I murmur with a sigh.

Gallagher laughs. “Don’t mind Jade. She’s hangry right now.”

“Oh yeah, my girl gets like that too if I don’t feed her. I got some fun-sized Snickers in the candy dish in the office if you want some,” drawls Louie, a slight twang to his sunny voice. He flashes a gap-toothed smile at me and points his thumb over his shoulder.

“That won’t be necessary, Lou. Jade will survive being a little hangry for a while. I’m here to pick up my bike.”

“Right! I was able to put a Screaming Eagle on hold for you. It’s nothing as good as you’re used to, but it’s the best I can rent out for now.”

The Screaming Eagle turns out to be a massive bike with shimmering gold paint and chrome that reflects the sunlight. There’s leather seating, even a backseat for me to sit on, and what Gallagher says is a saddlebag, which is a compartmentfor storage. The handlebars jut out to the side along with wide mirrors that help situational awareness when riding.

Gallagher slides onto the bike like nothing and then stares expectantly at me. “Well? Hop on, Special Agent. You’re riding with me.”

I shake my head. “I’ll take a taxi.”

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