Some girls steal hearts. Jinx prefers classified files, encrypted safes, and the occasional government secret. In a neon-lit city buzzing with corruption and caffeine, Jinx is a thief with style, sass, and zero regard for rules. She's fast, brilliant, and always three steps ahead-until she accidentally steals the wrong file and ends up on the radar of Agent Adrian Vance. Stoic. Relentless. Infuriatingly attractive. Adrian was trained to catch criminals, not flirt with them. But when a routine chase turns into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse-with a hell of a lot of sexual tension-he finds himself questioning everything. Especially when he discovers his name inside that stolen file... with a target painted on his back. Now, Jinx and Adrian are stuck in the same web of lies, black ops, and enemies who don't play fair. She might be chaos in combat boots. He might be order with a badge. Together, they might just burn the whole city down.
Chapter 1 1
Chapter One It was a simple job. Steal the file. Don't get caught. Don't flirt with the man trying to arrest you. Oops.
JINX
Some people collect stamps. I collect classified data and emotional damage.
The hallway was dark. Dusty. Reeked of copper and ozone. Somewhere below, traffic buzzed and sirens wailed like the city was screaming at itself. I crouched by the keypad, twisting the tiny tool between my gloved fingers until the green light flicked on and the heavy vault door clicked.
Amateurs built security systems. I built better ways in.
"You have sixty seconds," Sera whispered in my ear, her voice sharp through the comm.
"Relax," I murmured. "I'm already in."
"You cocky little gremlin."
I grinned.
The vault opened with a low hiss, revealing rows of locked drawers, steel cabinets, and a single folder placed dead center on a pedestal like some kind of dramatic prize. No digital backups. No server access. Just old-fashioned paper.
Paranoid much?
I made my way to the pedestal, heart thumping with adrenaline. This was supposed to be easy-get in, grab the file, ghost out. But something about the setup felt... wrong. Like someone wanted me to take it.
"Sera, this is too clean."
"Because you're too good. Ten seconds, Jinx."
I grabbed the file.
The second my fingers touched the folder, a soft ping echoed through the room.
Shit.
"Motion sensor just spiked," Sera said. "You've got company."
I spun, shoved the folder into my jacket, and sprinted for the door. Heavy boots pounded down the hall outside-too heavy, too fast. Not security.
Military.
I dove through the door, rolled across the hallway tiles, and popped up behind a support beam just as a figure rounded the corner.
And then I saw him.
Tall. Broad shoulders. Tactical gear like it was tailored to him. Jaw so sharp it could slice glass. He held his weapon low but ready, sweeping the hall with precise, measured movement.
He looked like a nightmare.
He looked like a challenge.
And then he saw me.
Our eyes locked. His narrowed.
I winked.
He raised his gun.
I bolted.
"Sera, exit route?"
"Left, then up three levels. Roof access is open."
"Buy me thirty seconds."
"You better be hot-wiring a jetpack."
I darted left, heard him curse and follow. He was fast. Damn fast. But I'd been running from people longer than he'd probably been shaving.
Up the stairs. Through a crumbling maintenance corridor. My boots hit the rooftop gravel just as the door slammed open behind me.
"Stop!" he shouted.
I turned, walking backward toward the edge.
"You gonna shoot me, handsome? That'll make paperwork awkward."
He didn't answer. Just stared.
So I smiled, gave him a lazy salute, and jumped off the roof.
Sera's drone caught me mid-fall, magnets locking to my jacket as I dangled and swung over the alley like a gleeful, lawbreaking piñata.
"You are out of your damn mind," she muttered.
"But did you see his face?" I asked, breathless with laughter.
"He looked like he wanted to strangle you."
"Right? God, he's hot."
Some girls want flowers.
I want the man trying to arrest me to look that pissed when I get away.
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