Chapter 5 5

Facing Blake's sudden question, Jordan instantly pulled back her killing intent. She smoothed out her features, replacing her hostility with a cold, polite mask.

She looked straight into Blake's eyes. Her voice was perfectly steady as she stated she was just here to post bail for her younger brother, Julian Whitley.

Hearing the last name "Whitley," the corner of Blake's mouth twitched upward by a millimeter. It confirmed the intel Drew had just gathered.

Blake slowly turned his head to look at the fat cop. His eyes turned razor-sharp as he demanded to see Julian's case file.

Sweat dripped down the cop's forehead. His fingers shook over the keyboard as he stuttered out an excuse, explaining that Major Crimes had locked the file.

Blake let out a low, dismissive scoff. He reached right around the bulletproof glass and pulled the keyboard toward himself.

His long fingers flew across the keys, inputting a high-level security override code. The red "DENIED" on the screen instantly flashed to a green "APPROVED." The fat cop's jaw dropped.

Jordan watched Blake's hands closely. She memorized the complex rhythm of his keystrokes, silently calculating his security clearance level in her head.

Blake turned his back to the desk. He ordered the detectives behind him to bring Julian and the street punk named Cody out of holding immediately.

Jordan's eyes narrowed slightly. She was surprised that Blake was bailing out the gangbanger too. She studied the tall man with renewed suspicion.

Blake felt her gaze. He took a slow step forward, his massive frame casting a dark shadow over Jordan's body.

He leaned down. His breath brushed her ear as he whispered that Cody was his useless cousin, and bailing Julian out was just a convenient favor.

Alarm bells rang violently in Jordan's head. A high-ranking AEGIS Commander having a street thug cousin in Brooklyn? It was a blatant lie.

She kept her face completely blank. She took a small step back and offered a dry, emotionless, "Thank you for your generosity, Commander Berry."

Blake's eyes darkened when she used his exact title. He tilted his head slightly and asked how she knew his name.

Jordan pointed a slender finger at the body camera on the fat cop's chest. She lied smoothly, saying she heard the officer say it earlier.

Blake didn't expose her terrible lie. He just nodded slowly, a dark, knowing look swimming in his eyes.

The heavy iron door to the holding area buzzed open again. A bruised and battered Julian was shoved out, alongside a terrified-looking Cody.

Julian saw Jordan standing there. His shoulders slumped, and he looked down at his shoes like a guilty child. "Hey, Jordan," he mumbled.

Jordan closed the distance in three strides. She grabbed Julian's chin roughly, tilting his face to the light to inspect the purple bruises on his cheek. Her eyes turned freezing cold.

She slowly turned her head and shot a lethal glare at Cody. The street thug physically shrank back, terrified of the aura radiating from her.

Blake walked up to Cody. Without a word, he kicked the thug hard in the shin, harshly scolding him for causing trouble again.

Cody winced in pain but didn't dare fight back. He just kept his head down and mumbled, "Sorry, cousin."

Jordan watched this bizarre family dynamic play out. The knot of suspicion in her chest pulled tighter.

Blake turned back to Jordan. He reached into his dark trench coat and pulled out a thick, black cardstock business card. He held it out to her.

The card was completely blank except for his name, Blake Berry, and a private phone number. No agency logo. No rank.

Blake's voice was smooth as velvet. He told her that if Julian ran into any more trouble, she could call him directly.

Jordan hesitated for a fraction of a second. But refusing would draw more suspicion. She reached out and took the card.

As she pulled it from his grip, her fingertips brushed against his knuckles. A sharp jolt of static electricity snapped between their skin.

Both of them froze. They looked up at the exact same time, their eyes locking in a heavy, suffocating clash of tension.

Jordan quickly pulled her hand back. She shoved the card into her pocket, grabbed Julian by the arm, and walked out of the precinct without looking back.