Chapter Text
The steady hum of the city surrounded Lucy Tara like an old, familiar melody as she sat on the rooftop of a building near downtown Washington, D.C. The sun had dipped below the horizon, and the city had begun to glow with artificial light. Her gloved fingers gripped the cold edge of the railing as she scanned the streets below through her binoculars.
The mission wasn’t unlike the countless others she’d undertaken before—covert, efficient, and bound to leave no trace. She wasn’t officially working for anyone; no badge, no uniform, no traceable orders. Lucy was a ghost, drifting through classified missions for the government when no one else could do the job. Tonight, she wasn’t eliminating a target or rescuing a hostage, though. This time, her mission was far more delicate. She was assigned to *protect*.
That was a rarity for her.
Kate Whistler’s name had barely registered when the Deputy Director had called her in for the assignment. She was just another civilian—a corporate lawyer who had gotten involved in the wrong mess. Witnesses, Lucy had learned long ago, were liabilities. They required protection, care, and constant vigilance. And often, they were just plain difficult.
Lucy smirked at the thought. How hard could it be to babysit a lawyer for a few weeks?
Her earpiece crackled to life, interrupting her thoughts. “You’re in position?” David’s voice came through, calm and steady. He’d been her handler for years, and though he called her *captain* out of respect for their past, Lucy knew he looked at her like a daughter.
“Yeah. Eyes on her building,” Lucy replied, her voice low as she lowered the binoculars, scanning the apartment building across the street. “Nothing unusual so far.”
“She won’t like this, you know,” David said with a chuckle. “From what I hear, Kate Whistler’s not the type to take orders.”
Lucy’s smirk widened. “Good. I’m not the type to take sass.”
The street below her was quiet—too quiet for her liking. The drug cartel had already made their first move a week ago, killing an FBI agent in a shootout that Kate had witnessed. That was what put her on the cartel’s radar, and now, as the key witness set to testify against them, they wanted her silenced before she ever stepped foot in court.
Lucy knew how these things worked. It wouldn’t be long before the cartel found her location. Witness protection protocols could only hold for so long. That’s why they had sent Lucy. She wasn’t just a protector; she was the one they called when they didn’t trust the system to keep someone alive.
Just then, her phone buzzed. Lucy glanced at the screen—a new file from David. *Kate Whistler*.
She leaned back against the railing, opening the file on her phone. A picture of Kate appeared— blonde hair, sharp eyes, dressed in a professional blazer and an air of quiet confidence. Lucy could tell by the set of her jaw that Kate was stubborn. *Great*. Exactly the kind of person who would resist protection at every turn.
The file detailed Kate’s work in corporate law, her connections to various firms, and how she’d gotten tangled up with a client tied to the cartel. As she read, Lucy noticed something else: Kate wasn’t just a bystander—she had uncovered something herself. Something that made her a bigger target.
*This just got more interesting,* Lucy thought, locking the screen.
David’s voice came back over the earpiece. “She’s in her apartment, third floor. Jesse and the others are keeping an eye on things, but they’re not professionals like you.”
Lucy couldn’t help the small pang of sympathy for Kate’s friends. They were regular corporate types—smart, but completely out of their depth. Jesse, Kai, Jane, and Ernie had no idea what they were really dealing with. Lucy did.
“Copy that. Moving in now,” Lucy responded, slipping the earpiece out and pocketing it as she made her way down the fire escape. She landed on the pavement silently, the night embracing her like a second skin. Her leather jacket clung to her frame, blending her into the shadows as she approached the entrance of Kate’s building.
Lucy didn’t knock. She never did. Instead, she bypassed the building’s old security system with ease, slipping inside and taking the stairs two at a time. Her hand instinctively rested on the handle of the Glock holstered at her side, her senses attuned to every creak and echo around her. She reached Kate’s apartment without making a sound.
The door was locked, but a simple flick of her wrist undid that. Lucy entered, her eyes sweeping the space with practiced efficiency. It was a typical city apartment—small, neat, and filled with evidence of someone who didn’t spend much time at home. A few law books were scattered across the kitchen counter, along with an untouched glass of wine.
A soft voice came from the hallway, startling Lucy for a split second. “Are you seriously just going to break into my apartment like that?”
Kate Whistler stood in the doorway of her bedroom, arms crossed, dressed in casual clothes but exuding the same intensity as in her professional photo. Her eyes narrowed at Lucy with suspicion, and she looked… *annoyed*.
Lucy met her gaze, unfazed. “I don’t knock.”
“No kidding,” Kate replied, stepping into the room with deliberate slowness. “You must be the babysitter the FBI sent.”
Lucy’s lips twitched, almost smiling. “Something like that. I’m here to keep you alive.”
Kate’s expression didn’t soften. “I don’t need a bodyguard. I told them I can handle this.”
“Sure,” Lucy said, her tone flat. “You plan on handling cartel hitmen by yourself?”
Kate stepped closer, her eyes flashing with defiance. “I don’t take orders, especially not from people who break into my home.”
Lucy raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the proximity or the heat in Kate’s words. “You can argue all you want, but if you want to live long enough to testify, you’re going to have to listen to me. Whether you like it or not.”
Kate scoffed, crossing her arms even tighter. “I don’t trust anyone who comes in here without knocking.”
Lucy took a slow breath, keeping her tone measured. “You don’t have to trust me. You just have to stay alive.”
The silence that followed was thick with tension. Kate studied her, looking for any crack in Lucy’s composed exterior, but she wouldn’t find any. Lucy had perfected her mask long ago.
Finally, Kate broke the silence. “Fine. But I don’t follow orders.”
Lucy’s gaze softened just a fraction, a spark of amusement in her otherwise cold demeanor. “That makes two of us.”
Without another word, she turned her back on Kate, moving toward the window to scan the street below. Kate stood frozen, her eyes never leaving Lucy as the night stretched on.
This was only the beginning of their journey together, but Lucy could already tell—it wasn’t going to be easy.
And somehow, that made the challenge all the more intriguing.
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