Page 20 of Burn Protocol

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I’m still in my civies when I enter the coffee shop. It just opened and there are only two other people inside. My eyes roam the menu above the register. Not that it will change my order.

“Can I help you?” the barista asks, cheery.

I suppress a grunt. It’s barely 8:30.

“Coffee. Black.”

“Right away, ma’am. For here or to go?”

“For here.”

The woman lifts one eyebrow so quickly that I almost miss it. Then she smiles, all happy and polite.

“Please, find yourself a seat.”

My eyes sweep over the small room and settle on a corner spot near the window. It is private. Good. I am not in the mood to be overheard.

I’ve just sat down when Maya enters. I glance at my watch. 08:33. Late. She waves at me, her face bright and sunny. Fuck. Already forgiven.

After she orders something at the counter that I didn’t catch, she strolls over and sits in the chair opposite me.

“Hi.”

“Hey,” I reply. My voice is suddenly deep and gruff.

“Thank you, Elena. I am so glad you agreed to this.”

Her eyes study me. Is she looking for a reaction? I shrug casually. Before either of us can say anything, the server stands next to us.

“One coffee, black,” she emphasizes with a wink, “and a caramel latte. If there is anything else you want, just let me know. Enjoy.”

Caramel latte, really? What an insult to coffee.

Maya is still looking at me, watching me intensely.

“W…what?”

I murmur my question as I let my hand glide over my face. Do I have something there?

“You seem to disapprove of my choice,” she smiles smugly at me.

Her eyes sparkle as she tilts her chin toward her cup. She’s testing you. I feel the corners of my lips tug.

“I do. That stuff is diabetes in a cup.”

“Let me guess. If you could have an IV-drip with pure caffeine, you’d take it.”

“It’s only logical.”

She raises an eyebrow.

“Logical how?”

“Well,” I muse, “the dosage is more effective for a start. And it gives you freedom to move around.”

She snorts at that and shakes her head.