Page 27 of Jack

“And do you want that?”

“It’s not that I want a relationship with the promise of marriage and two-point four kids, but I can’t shake the feeling that he could hurt me.”

“Hurt you how?”

“Jack is so intense when he’s doing something. With me, he’s so focused on me that he could easily make me forget it wasn’t real and I’d fall for him.”

“Sounds like you know all the pitfalls so you can avoid them. Can you imagine that kind of intensity and focus between the sheets? Jack doesn’t strike me as a man who has trouble finding a woman’s clitoris.”

“Yeah, if he fucks like he kisses, it would be phenomenal.”

Bebe knocked her knee with her hand. “See, so maybe have some fun. Life is short. We know that better than most so enjoy what he’s offering and keep your heart out of it. You can be safe in the knowledge that if he hurts you, Zenobi will cut his bollocks off and put them in a jar.”

Astrid shook her head, laughing. “Not a visual I want, thanks. But maybe you’re right. I should just see what happens and stop overthinking it.”

“Good girl. Now that’s sorted, let’s talk about Ravelino. Do we know how he found you and why?”

“That would be a no to both. Jack had him removed before I could find out.”

“Well, let me start looking into that while you do your thing. I know Eidolon is helping you. Do you want me to run this alone or work with them?”

“What does Roz want?”

“She wants whatever you want. If you trust Jack and his boys, we’ll work with them on this. If you don’t, we’ll work it quiet.”

“Work with them. It makes sense to share information. I need to know how they found me, and if I fucked up when I was searching back channels for Adeline and exposed myself in some way.”

“Okay, I’ll speak with Waggs and Mitch and find out what they know. Do we know where they took the men they captured?”

“No, just that it was off-site.”

“I need that info too in case I want to interrogate them.”

“I’m sorry you’ve been dragged into this, Bebe.”

“Hey, none of that. We’re family, and when one of us gets attacked, we all stand and fight.”

“Thank you.”

Astrid leaned her head against Bebe’s shoulder. She still missed Adeline every single day, but these women who had saved her were like sisters to her now too. She’d do anything for them, and they were proving they felt the same way towards her.

An hour later, a knock on her door had her smiling as she swung it open for Jack. He’d changed into grey suit trousers and a white shirt which was open at the collar and a jacket she knew hid his sidearm. Some of the fatigue she’d seen on the plane seemed to have lifted, and she wasn’t sure if it was the few hours’ sleep he’d had, or knowing he had more support on the ground with Fortis there now.

“Ready to go?”

“Yeah, let me just let Bebe know I’m going.” Her friend was in the next room with an adjoining door between them. She’d said it was already booked when she’d arrived and Astrid guessed that was Jack’s doing, wanting to make sure she was protected.

He followed her into the suite and looked around at the mess she’d already made. Clothes, shoes, and make-up were scatted across the room making it look like a whirlwind had been through. She wasn’t a naturally tidy person, life was too short but she saw Jack’s wide eyes and knew it would be driving him crazy.

She knocked on the door, it opened seconds later, and Bebe stepped through into her room. “Hey.”

“Bebe, I’m off now, so I’ll see you later.”

Astrid turned to find Jack picking up clothes and placing them over the arm of the chair and pairing the shoes and lining them up. She folded her arms over her chest. “You got a new job as a maid, Jack?”

She saw him smirk as he looked up and came towards her with a glint in his eye that promised retribution for her smart-ass comment. “How can you think in this chaos?”

“Chaos is my middle name.”

He stepped close and took her chin in his hand, the grip firm but gentle as he eyed her lips like a starving man. The shock of desire burned through her, and she fought to keep her knees locked in place.

“Firefly, you’re definitely chaos, and it turns out I like it more than I thought.”

His thumb pulled at her bottom lip, and her breath hitched. Jesus Christ, he was flaying her skin with the heat in his blue eyes.

He let go and walked to the door. “Come on. I don’t want to be late for my own meeting.”

Astrid cast a last glance at Bebe who was fanning herself and followed him out of the room. That was the kind of move that made her lose all sense and become a ball of sexual need.