ression was focused, even stoic, but her eyes scanned the street with precision. They were here for

rmured, more to hers

up from his surveillance notes. "We've got time.

, we do this by the book. No

irony itself, a growling e

ad joke. It gleamed under the Miami sun, completely out of place in th

actical vest slung over a crisp white tee, his expression pur

Leah snapped,

"I brought style. You're welcome. Besides, you didn

ice clipped. "Low profile. You couldn't ha

granola bar into his mout

d into his mic, "Target spotted. Second-f

position. We move quiet and tight. Let's

iding across the street l

! WAIT

ked open the door of t

woman screamed. A door slammed. A single sh

her weapon and sprinting up th

Brooks pinned to the wall, bleeding from a busted lip

as if he'd just ba

the vest and yanking him back. "You could've

ng himself off like it was a game.

less. You're cocky. And you'r

roaned, clear

pped aside to breathe. The hallway s

otten th

n't feel lik

ick stack of folders on Jason's desk. He

t sneak up on

d. "You'll need

at the files.

iles from today. And some

hed. "You'

her arms. "I

ght th

re sitting your overconfident ass down and finishing

theatrical groan

ucky I don't

le high-five. Even Ben, the tech expert chu

him with the cold

And I picked the ones with handwritten notes a

ined smiles. It was quiet aside from the clinking of mugs and the hum of the air conditioner. Leah, Ben,

of her coffee. "I can't believe how well it worked," she said, her voice laced with triumph.

on his face when he saw the stack of cases. Priceless

ng his fingers on the table in a rhythm. "I didn't think he'd be that clueless.

he center of attention. I mean, the guy thought he could waltz in and charm his way throug

ou made it just bad enough for him to feel it but not too bad

nderstood this isn't about flashy entrances or big talk. T

nitely got a dose of reality today. I

uy who gets away with whatever he wants. He's not g

y have the upper hand, even if just for a little while. As they enjoyed t

rinning widely. "But you k

yebrow, intrigue

down. You know he'll probably come back tomorrow with some new excuse or make it

n how to be part of this team, or he'll crash and

ng slightly. "He won't see it coming. He'

n. The three of them fell silent as she glanced down at the screen. Her expression immediately s

quickly grabbed the phone and answered, h

but there was an urgency beneath it.

n the Chief's tone that suggested this wasn't just

yes briefly flicking to Ben and Torres. They exch

Ben asked, his voic

a full explanation. "I don't know. But I

he had no idea what the Chief wanted, but she had a feeling it involved more than just Jason's paperwo

h uncertainty. But one thing was clear: whatever was about to happen next, Jason's name was bound to

was already inside. Feet up on the chair.

uckling at something

here. Jason told me you were followi

nked. "S

be done. I don't think I will still be doing some paper works at th

w sir" she said as she hurriedly packed the stack of

over the rim of her mug. "Haze

oles in him. But

ut with him giggl

bed staring at the ceiling f

op? Why did his arrogance someh

ut a muffled scream into the

rturing her. In the middle

ent flas

in the station hallway. Her heel c

eaching without thi

the look in his eyes. That second where s

t h

ering her face w

appening," s

thudded louder

, she knew someth

starting

er more than any arm