Page 57 of Protect Thy Enemy

Luna’s attention is locked on him now, and as if sensing it, Park’s eyes flick to her. The moment their gazes meet, somethingshifts. His expression doesn’t change, stoic as ever, but there’s a brief pause, a flicker of interest as his eyes go on a slow perusal of her that makes my stomach twist.

“Well,hellothere,” Luna murmurs, a hint of mischief in her tone.

“Luna, no,” I say, nudging her. “He’s my coworker.”

“Oh relax, Arden. I’m just looking. He’s... interesting,” she replies, not bothering to hide her interest.

Before I can respond, a deep voice interrupts us. “Ladies.”

I turn to find Agent Beckett has moved from Park’s side and is now standing behind me, his ever-present smirk firmly in place.

Luna’s brows arch slightly as her gaze shifts from me to him. She takes him in, clearly intrigued, but it’s different from her interest in Park. “Hi, I’m Luna, and you are?”

“Ezra Beckett,” he says smoothly, offering his hand. “Nice to meet you, Luna.”

She shakes his hand, her lips curving into a polite smile. “Pleasure.”

Ezra’s gaze shifts to me, his smile softening. “Arden. Nice to see you out of the office.”

“Ezra,” I say, forcing a tight smile.

“Care to join us?” he asks, gesturing to a nearby table where a few other agents are seated.

I open my mouth to decline, but Luna beats me to it. “We’dloveto.”

I glare at her, but she grabs my arm and pulls me toward the table. “Live a little. You know the saying, ride a cowboy, slay a horse.”

I’m almost 80 percent sure that’s not how that saying goes, but I don’t bother arguing with her.

As we approach the table, my eyes instinctively scan the room, landing on yet another familiar figure near the back wall, and it takes everything in me not to trip on my own two feet.

Agent Holden Grant.

Of fucking course.

Seems like the whole Scooby gang is here.

He’s leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, dressed in a black T-shirt and dark jeans that fit him unfairly well. His piercing blue eyes are locked on our group, unyielding and unreadable.

Seeing him sends a jolt through me, a mix of irritation and something I refuse to name.

“You okay?” Luna asks, glancing at me as if she’s sensed the shift.

“Fine,” I lie, tearing my gaze away from him.

The table erupts into conversation, but I can’t focus. I can still feel his eyes on me, like I'm tied up in my very own lasso, and the tightness of the hold is making the room suffocating. Nearly impossible to breathe.

“I’ll be right back,” I say, standing abruptly.

“You want me to come?” Luna asks, already half standing.

“No, no, it’s fine,” I say, desperate to escape before I lose my nerve.

I slip away from the table, weaving through the crowd until I find the hallway leading to the restrooms. The air feels cooler here, quieter, but my pulse continues to race.

The bathroom is empty.Thank God. I lock the door behind me and lean against the counter, staring at my reflection. My lipstick has faded, and that slight flush coloring my cheeks can’t be blamed on the wine.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to shake the anxiousness of my system, but it’s too much. Grant’s presence still lingers like a silent storm brewing just out of reach.

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