Kindred Spirit - Noah Harris Page 0,65

continuing to work solo?” she persisted, breezing right over his shock.

“Wait, he agreed?”

“He told me that in no uncertain terms, the only way he would consider it would be if you were the null partner in question. And, I was required to compensate...Louis.”

Jacob covered his mouth to stop his laughter but still snorted. “And did uh, he win that concession?”

“I told him I would take it under advisement and that he would have to talk to you about his other terms.”

“I honestly don’t know what to say to that. I did not expect him to even consider it.”

“If I’m honest, I believe he’s a little surprised at himself. But he has time to mull it over, you both do.”

Jacob’s shoulders sagged. “I’m being put on medical leave again, aren’t I?”

She smiled sympathetically. “I’m afraid so, Agent Ryder. You had shrapnel in your leg, and then a bullet in the same leg, all within twenty-four hours. You’ll be on paid medical leave for a couple of weeks, at least.”

Jacob groaned, slumping his head back onto the pillow. “I hate medical leave.”

She patted his injured leg none too gently. “Consider it time to spend with Mr. Boaz and try to convince him to join you out in the field.”

Jacob hissed, trying to pull his leg away from her before she could continue hitting him. She was already up, though, and he thought he noticed a devilish smirk on her face before she turned and walked toward the door. As if summoned, Levi appeared in the doorway, glaring at Director Harrison, who only nodded at him before passing out into the hall.

Levi inched into the room, checking the corners. “How are you feeling?”

“Other than wondering if my boss might be the devil, wonderful,” Jacob said through gritted teeth.

“She’s an official in the government, she has to be evil,” Levi told him.

Jacob grunted his agreement, but he suspected an ulterior motive. It wasn’t until the pain faded enough to think clearly and give Harrison time to get out of the room that he could consider her parting words fully.

“I also think she knows there’s more here than we let on,” Jacob said, leaning back to relax.

“More here?” Levi asked curiously.

Jacob smiled. “Well, unless you told her about you and me personally, I think she’s figured it out somehow.”

“Oh?”

The wariness in Levi’s voice tightened Jacob’s chest. “Uh, I mean. Unless you’ve decided that maybe a ‘you and I’ isn’t such a good idea.”

Levi blinked, his expression softening. “Jacob. Don’t get nervous on me now.”

Bending forward, Levi lay a gentle hand on Jacob’s cheek and kissed him. Jacob could feel him starting to pull away and reached out to catch him by the back of the head. This was the first time the two of them had been left alone, and Jacob tried to make up for it a little. They’d been through hell and back, and damn it, he wanted a good, solid, breath-stealing kiss.

When they broke apart, Levi’s face was flushed, and his eyes nervously darted toward the doorway. Jacob would bet there were a few more reactions he was probably getting out of Levi too. It was only the open doorway that kept his hands in publicly approved places on the other man.

“Are you okay?” Jacob asked softly.

Still flushed, Levi nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Talked to your boss for a little bit.”

Jacob chuckled. “She told me. Apparently, you gave her quite the earful.”

“Which she rightly deserved.”

“She seems to agree with you.”

“Which is just weird. You’d think someone in her position wouldn’t take one bit of my shit.”

Jacob took Levi’s hand in his. “I really don’t see it as putting up with shit. You’re you, and maybe she sees that too.”

Levi hesitated, then wrinkled his nose. “Apparently, Lou doesn’t agree with your assessment.”

“Doesn’t believe in her that way, huh?”

“No, he thinks anyone in my life has to put up with shit.”

Jacob snorted. “You two are like an old married couple. Or siblings, you know that?”

“You try growing up with that asshole’s commentary your whole life and see how well you put up with it.” Levi glanced over his shoulder. “You are an asshole, don’t even try to deny it.”

Apparently, Lou had more to say about that, inciting an even dirtier look from Levi. Even if Lou hadn’t been willing to kill in a heartbeat for the sake of Levi’s safety, it was obvious the two of them cared about one another. Lou had been a part of Levi’s life through