Page 65 of A Perfect Disaster

I stare at her, narrowing my eyes. Damn, she’s so sexy when she steps into my territory.

“That’s disturbingly efficient.”

“Naval bureaucracy is the best sedative there is,” she replies, winking at me.

A smile escapes me, a real one. Maika catches it immediately, but she’s gracious enough not to press the issue. Thank God.

Over the next two hours, we become a true team. And amid the clamor of the Neapolitan port, I understand exactly what Julianne meant when she spoke of complementary profiles.

We’re not alike. And that’s exactly why we work well together.

Once we manage to channel the bulk of the passengers, the tension in the air drops suddenly. The shipping company’s buses move in and out smoothly, and the stragglers move forward with clear instructions. The port authorities have put away their ticket books and look at us with well-deserved respect.

Maika approaches, taking a sip from an almost empty water bottle.

“No casualties,” she says, exhaling all the air.

“There’s still the afternoon shift,” I remind her.

“You’re so attached to protocols,” she jokes, wiping the sweat from her forehead with her arm.

“I try to maintain operational standards,” I reply, allowing myself another smile.

“It could have been an absolute disaster. We handled it well.”

Maika’s walkie-talkie interrupts the moment with Nico’s voice, and she listens to the report intently.

“Roger that, I’m heading to dock two.”

She cuts the communication and turns to me.

“I have to go down to the second checkpoint. The group on the walking tour is ready to leave.”

I nod.

“Your team has done very well.”

“I know,” she replies, a gleam of pride in her eyes.

“And so have you.”

Maika stops short. Her expression changes, softening in a split second.

“Thank you.”

“Be careful out there,” I add, and the words slip out before I can stop them.

She tilts her head, and for a moment, the Maika from our previous contracts returns.

“Is that point three of your plan or a safety suggestion?” she teases me.

“It’s a mixed order.”

“I’ll take the human part,” she replies.

Maika smiles broadly, turns around, and raises her arms to summon her people.

“Tour group, follow me! We’re going to show Naples how to organize a march—they’ve already got the traffic figured out.”