Page 6 of Seek Me Darling

The day’s just getting started, and I intend to make it count.

The drive to the DEA offices is mercifully quick at this time of morning, the familiar route letting my restless thoughts settle into something resembling clarity. Headquarters looms ahead, a sleek, faceless building blending seamlessly into the mundane corporate landscape. Unremarkable from the outside, but within these walls, we hunt monsters and tear entire worlds apart—my kind of place.

I flash my ID badge at the guard, who nods with practiced indifference, waving me through without a second glance. Parking my car in my usual spot, I step out, savoring the briskness of the early-morning air against my skin as I head toward the entrance.

Inside, I breeze through security on autopilot—badge, metal detector, brief nod—and immediately get hit by the scent of cheap coffee, paperwork, and crushed dreams. Phones ring, voices chatting, and for some twisted reason, it feels like home.

Striding into the bullpen where my team congregates, I nod to a few familiar faces, murmuring greetings as I pass without inviting conversation. I’m halfway to my desk when Eli looks up from his mountainous pile of reports and flashes a grin.

“Morning, boss,” he drawls, lifting a steaming mug in mock salute. “Bright-eyed and ready to ruin someone’s day as usual, I see.”

I raise an eyebrow at him, smirking faintly. “Someone has to pick up your slack, Eli. That coffee isn’t going to fill out your paperwork for you.”

Jensen snickers from the desk behind Eli, leaning back in his chair with arms crossed, his grin wide and lazy. “Ouch. You really gotta cut him down first thing, Seanna? Can’t you let the poor guy finish his caffeine first?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” I retort lightly, draping my jacket over my chair and pulling out my notes from yesterday’s bust. “Besides, I prefer him slightly terrified. Keeps productivity high.”

Matteo strolls past, dropping a fresh cup of coffee onto my desk without looking away from his phone, dark brows furrowed in concentration. “Remember, she likes to break men’s spirits before breakfast,” he says dryly, moving toward his own workspace. “Keeps her young.”

“Careful, Matteo,” I warn lightly, not bothering to glance up as I shuffle through paperwork. “You could be next.”

He snorts, finally lifting his eyes to meet mine, a spark of amusement dancing in their depths. “I’ve survived worse.”

I laugh under my breath, slipping easily into the familiar rhythm of our banter. My team might be a chaotic collection of misfits, but I trust these men with my life.

Just as I’ve started mapping out Diego’s interrogation strategy, my phone buzzes sharply against my desk. I glance at the screen, rolling my eyes dramatically at my dad’s name.

DAD

Your mom, Papa, and I are leaving for Chicago soon, so we won’t catch you today. Can you call into the organization HQ at some point? Uncle Max needs to talk to you about your case.

Of course Uncle Max wants to talk. If it’s not my parents poking around, it’s Max’s paranoid hacker brain digging into every digital breadcrumb. Still, irritation aside, I can’t ignore him. Max has a sixth sense and the uncanny ability to find things that even the DEA can’t.

Mentally bookmarking a visit to HQ later, I stand up smoothly, sliding my phone into my pocket.

“Leaving us already?” Eli feigns disappointment, pressing a hand dramatically to his heart. “You just got here.”

“Some of us actually have work to do,” I shoot back, heading toward interrogation. “I’ve got a date downstairs with our stubborn cartel asshole.”

Jensen pushes away from his desk with a stretch, a grin spreading across his face. “Perfect. I love a good intimidation session before breakfast.”

“Better than TV,” Eli quips, trailing after us eagerly.

Matteo shakes his head with mock resignation, falling silently into step beside us as we head toward the interrogation rooms downstairs. “Remind me again why I spend everyday with you three?”

“My charming personality, obviously,” Eli says smoothly.

Jensen snorts loudly. “Yeah, let’s go with that.”

Stepping into the elevator, silence settles around us as we shift from banter to cold focus. Jensen straightens, a wall of muscle radiating quiet menace. This dance is one we’ve perfected—me leading the charge, Jensen playing executioner, and Eli and Matteo dissecting every twitch from behind the glass.

Interrogation is in the basement, buried beneath layers of concrete and secrets. The hallway echoes quietly under our footsteps, tension rising. Outside Diego’s room, Eli and Matteo veer toward the observation area. When I take a deep breath, Matteo pauses briefly, offering a small nod.

“Go get him, boss,” Eli whispers with a smirk, slipping inside.

I glance up at Jensen, who cracks his knuckles menacingly. “Ready?”

“Always.”

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