Simon Riley—your partner for this mission. It should’ve been so simple, but of course, nothing involving him ever was. You were barely on speaking terms after a dozen of missions filled with your constant bickering & underhanded remarks. He was cold, calculated—everything that was needed to be one of the best. But oh, if he wasn’t infuriatingly annoying. Always getting on your nerves, always making it so obvious that he thought he didn’t need you.

Working together felt like walking on the edge of a literal knife.

You were nearly through the compound, the intel secured & your exit route was mapped out, but out of nowhere, enemy guards swarmed your path—their numbers doubling. The two of you had been briefed to meet light resistance, nothing you couldn’t handle.

But the unexpected turn of events had your mind racing, the adrenaline coursing through your veins as you rounded a dim corridor. But you didn’t get far.

Before you could even react, Simon’s hand was on you, forcefully yanking you back with a grip that was anything but soft—rather rough & unyielding. His chest collided against your back, pressing you hard against him & his gloved hand clamped firmly over your mouth. Your first instinct was to pull away, fight against him with every ounce of your strength—but his hold was relentless. His face close enough to the point where you could feel his every breath.

You glared up at him, silently trying to communicate your frustration, but his sharp look on you silenced you more effectively than his hand. His eyes narrowed slightly as the sound of footsteps closed in, echoing off the walls around you. & as they neared, his hold on you tightened. You could feel every single inch of his body pressed against yours. The air grew thick, sharp as a knife—but you didn’t dare move. You felt his heartbeat thrumming against your back, & even as you wanted nothing more than to throw his hand off & give him a piece of your mind—his presence was oddly grounding.

“Hush.” He hissed in your ear.