Page 91 of Brooklyn Cupid

The operation is tomorrow, and we discuss the plan in detail, while all I can think about is if we get done tomorrow, I’m going to see Lu much sooner than I thought.

“You are too deep in,” Roey snaps when the rest of the guys go back to their rooms.

“What are you talking about?”

“Lucy.”

“Why would you say that?”

He turns to lock eyes with me. “Because I know you, Jace. What are you thinking?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t dance around. It’s a serious question. Is she just a fling?”

I don’t answer. She’s not. But one drunk kiss from her is not an indication that she feels anything close to how I do. Granted, she doesn’t yet know my story.

“So, you’ll be alright leaving New York as soon as we sort out Reznik?”

No, I won’t. But I don’t know what to tell him. I don’t even know what to tell Lu. Besides the fact that I’m head over heels in love with her.

“What does Lu have to do with anything?” I ask quieter, knowing that I can’t fool Roey by answering his question with a question.

“Fucking everything!” Roey barks suddenly. “And you need to do something about it so you can do your fucking job!”

He exhales in obvious frustration, and I stare at him in shock. Roey hardly ever loses his temper.

“Miller searched all her records and emails. Reznik hasn’t contacted her since the night we lost him.Youobviously didn’t get any info. The only reason you are still in Goldsling Towers”—Roey stares at me with the anger that makes me feel guilty—“is because I know you care about the girl, and I want you to be happy.”

“The rent is not a work expense anymore. I understand that. I’ll pay for it, Roey. But I’m not moving out yet. I’m not.”

I understand, I fucking do, that I’ve been neglecting my job. But I discovered something that’s more important than my job or anything else in my life, ever—Lu—and I’m not letting her go.

“It’s all over your face, Shooter,” Roey says a little calmer this time. “We are going over a target that will earn us a lot of money, but I see a dreamy look on your face. And I fucking hope that you don’t have that look when you are in a hideout with a rifle tomorrow. We don’t need another screwed operation.”

Blood thumps in my head at the words. He’s talking about the night I missed Reznik. And he’s angry I’m not paying due attention to my job. No matter how pissed his tone makes me, Roey is right.

“Everything will work fine tomorrow,” I say quieter.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. I willnotfuck up.

Roey goes to the mini bar and makes himself a drink.

My heart sinks. Roey might have binges he can’t control, but he never drinks before an operation.

Except today.

Shit.

And me?

It’s a fucking addiction because in order to calm my nerves and frustration, I think of Lu. And as soon as Roey turns on the TV, my thoughts are back in New York.

34

JACE

I’ve readall of Lu’s stories multiple times now. Reading lets me explore Lu’s brain. There’s psychology behind creation and a choice of words. And there are definitely personal preferences in one’s writing.

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