Double Agent

Last One Standing

The steam rose from my body as I stepped out of the shower, securing a large, fluffy towel around myself and flicking my hair over my shoulder. I'd been on cloud nine since spending the night with Dash, but there was still work to be done, still things that I'd need to take care of on both sides. Henry had been radio silent since the last time we'd met, and so I was still no closer to knowing when they were going to pull the op on Jonas, meaning I'd been forced to drag my heels on the supposed deal that I was bartering with contacts on the weapons and ammo that Dash needed for when he found Hartel. Luckily none of them suspected anything, but I knew it wasn't going to be that easy forever, they'd not held off in their searches for him, and it was an approaching certainty, that either they'd find him, or discover my dishonesty, sooner rather than later.

"Nikki?" Sage's voice called from the door to my bedroom.

"Be right out!"

I heard the door open and close whilst I padded out of the bathroom.

"What's up?" I asked, coming to a stop at the foot of my bed, where I'd left my stack of clothes.

"Sorry, I didn't realise." She replied, gesturing at the towel which was wrapped around my still dripping body.

I half shrugged roughly drying my hair with the smaller towel which was laying over my left shoulder, and nodded for her to continue.

"We've had a promising lead on somewhere Jonas could be laying low. We're heading out at dusk, but for now, everyone's meeting in the gym."

My stomach flopped, and I hoped that this location would prove to be just as much of a let down as the others.

"The gym?"

She laughed at my bemused expression, then slunk back out of the room, pausing only to add:

"You're gonna need another shower afterwards."

Her words still sinking in, I looked down and the clothes I'd laid out, none of them seemed suitable for whatever was awaiting me in the gym, so, spinning on my heel, I approached the closet and rifled through my stuff for a more appropriate ensemble, grateful to find my workout gear near the back. Dressing quickly, I tied my damp hair into a ponytail as I sped downstairs and made my way to the gym, located on the far side of the house.

The gym had been rearranged since the last time that I'd been in there. The large room usually appeared much smaller due to the presence of a bunch of exercise machines and punch bags. But today, all of the equipment had been pushed to the outer walls, leaving a large empty space in the center, covered by a series of padded mats. Dash and Luke stood in the middle talking in hushed tones, whilst Daya, Sage, Eddie and a group of their other men were scattered around, some in conversation, others stretching, all wearing varying shades of sportswear. At the sound of the door closing behind me, all eyes turned my way, but I only cared about one set. The icy blue ones up ahead, which were glinting warmly as he smiled at my presence. As though on auto-pilot, I drew nearer, pulled to him like a magnet, without even caring about who else was in the room.

"That's a good look on you." He said softly as I came to a stop in front of him.

"Thanks. Back at you." I replied playfully, tilting my head to the side to better admire his strong, muscular arms, and the tattoos that were inked upon them.

"And I'm out." Luke chimed in, sounding appalled by our interaction.

It was hard not to be amused at the lack of tolerance he had for anyone else's relationships, especially given how mushy he tended to be when it came to Sage.