“It’s your call.” His eyes never left Jay’s. His arms stayed crossed over his massive chest. The stupid fucking grin he used to intimidate people never left his face.
“You should probably sit,” I said.
John sat. Jay didn’t. Gibson stepped to the side and created space between him and Jay. He wasn’t afraid of Jay, but he didn’t want to piss me off by physically removing my cousin—who’s all but double dog daring him to do it—from his personal space.
“We don’t have all day, Jones with a G,” Jay said with more snark than was necessary.
“Christ, will you both just sit your asses down!”
They followed the order with matching sarcastic grins. I understood Gibson’s, but not Jay’s.
“You’ve probably guessed I don’t work for the logistics department.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” Jay said, using G’s words from earlier.
“Jaden,” John warned his son. “Let him finish.”
“Thank you.” I nodded towards G. “This is Ryan Gibson. We work for the government.”
“Which three-letter acronym?” John asked.
I’d expected the question, but had hoped he wouldn’t ask.
“The CIA. They recruited me while I was in the Navy.”
“You’re a fucking CIA agent?” Jay spat out. I couldn’t tell if his ire was directed at the agency or at me.
Probably both.
“Officer, everyone gets it wrong,” I corrected him.
“Does it matter?”
“It does,” Gibson barked.
“Everyone, calm down.”This meeting is migraine inducing. “Jay, please stop antagonizing Gibson. Gibson, please let me handle this. John.”
I looked at my uncle. John leaned forward, his hands folded together on the table.
“So, you’re a CIA officer?” he asked.
“I am. And Miss Novak is a person of interest in a case we’re working.”
“Person of interest? Her background check came back clear.”
“She’s not in trouble, but she’s connected to our case.”
A razor blade would struggle to cut the tension in the room.
“John, I know this comes as a shock—”
John cut me off. “Not really, your logistic supply story never really held up to scrutiny.”
I laughed. Some people would dismiss a small town cop, but I knew better. John was sharp as a tack and calm as fuck, a dangerous combination.
John continued, “Though I never suspected you’d joined the CIA.” He shrugged. “I always figured you’d tell me the truth when you were ready.”
John had been my biggest advocate as I worked my ass off to earn a place in the Naval Academy.
