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ChapterOne
Callahan
There isa common belief that men and women can’t be ‘just friends’ without any romantic or sexual attraction. Many have tried to prove this theory wrong. There are actual studies that have shown that men and women can indeed have purely platonic relationships.
Do you know what the key to a successful platonic friendship between a man and a woman is?
I have the secret… pretend you don’t feel anything for your best female friend.
So far, it’s worked for me.
I met Lake Zimmerman in Quantico. She was training to become an agent in the Cyber Crime Division.
There was something about her wit, her brilliance, and her beauty that attracted me to her. We hit it off, but she gently friend-zoned me. In retrospect, that was a wise move on her part. I should’ve cut my losses then but…
But how can I let her go?
Lake is like a breath of fresh air, and her radiant beauty captivates me instantly.
Her delicate features are like those of a fairy princess, with high cheekbones and soft, kissable lips that seem to be always smiling. Her eyes sparkle with intelligence and wit, a deep shade of green that seems to see straight into my soul.
She moves with an almost otherworldly grace. She’s barely five foot four. No one would ever guess she’s a lethal FBI agent who could easily take a six-foot-four man down with just a few moves.
Lake is not only a valuable asset as a work colleague, but she’s also my best friend… and dare I say that she’s the love of my life. I’ve never admitted to anyone—let alone myself—my deep-seated love for her that threatens to consume me every day. The thought of losing her, of never seeing her again, sends a shiver down my spine.
I can’t bear the thought of living without her, and yet, here we are in the midst of something that could very well end up costing not only my life but more importantly hers. But somehow we’ve found ourselves knee-deep in the nine circles of hell.
How did I let this happen?
What if there’s no escape?
I wish I could claim her being here was a simple accident. I would use any excuse I could to be in her presence, work related or not. I invited her to my house so I could utilize her forte of piecing things together with ease while we discussed the case Ryder and I got assigned two weeks ago. I figured with her particular skill set, she could help us considering this was a case I couldn’t exactly back away from, since it involves my father and the DiGiacomo Family.
Was I surprised to discover my father was married into the Italian mafia?
Nothing that involves him surprises me.
Nothing.
Until this, I wasn’t expecting the unfortunate events that followed. First, my father was found dead in his office. Second, an intruder broke into my house, attempting to kill me. Third, the family vacation home in Vermont was set on fire.
There’s no doubt that someone is after us.
We escaped unscathed. Ansel, my best friend, was able to call in a few favors to evacuate my family, and now… well, I’m in a sketchy hotel hiding out until he can tell me where we go next.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask again as Lake takes off her bloody jacket and tosses it onto the floor.
She hasn’t uttered a word since we left my house, not one peep. I’ve barely received a brief glance. Her green eyes seem lost, but I know better. She’s working something out and is not ready to tell me what it is. The weight of the unspoken words between us hangs heavy in the air, suffocating me with uncertainty and fear.
“Lake.” I press my lips together. “Talk to me, darling. You’re scaring me.”
She touches the side of her neck and sighs. “I’m okay.”
Is she? Because that asshole had a knife against her and I’m still trembling with fear. I almost lost her—and I don’t even have her. I wish I could hold her close to allay my fears and whisper that everything will be okay. But what happens if I cross the line and fuck up our friendship?
“You didn’t allow me to fight him,” she snarls as she heads toward the bathroom. “We could’ve interrogated him. Instead, you shot him.”
She turns on the shower. “And to make matters worse, you made me leave my phone behind.”
