Page 53 of Begin Again

My mind spins, piecing together the fragments: the late-night phone calls, Orion showing up out of nowhere, the way herefusedto tell us what he was up to. I swallow hard.He knew.Or at least, he suspected. And now Theo is confirming my worst fear—there’s more happening than we realize.

Theo watches me carefully like he can see every thought flickering through my head. Then, in a tone far too casual for what we’re discussing, he grins. “So, what do you say? You, me, your FBI agent brother… we team up, pool our resources, and get to the bottom of this?” He strokes his chin dramatically. “Feels like we’re assembling a pretty solid squad here.”

Despite the knot of unease in my stomach, I huff out a laugh. “You make it sound like we’re forming a superhero task force.”

He snaps his fingers, eyes lighting up. “Exactly. Like, one of those elite crime-fighting teams—minus the spandex suits.” He tilts his head, reconsidering. “Unless you’re into that.”

I roll my eyes, but my lips twitch. “Pretty sure Orion wouldn’t approve ofanyteam where you and I are in close proximity.”

Theo smirks, leaning in just a little. “Then I think we should do it.” His voice dips to a teasing note. “I love breaking the rules.”

I know I should be focused on the bigger issue here—the murders, the danger, the mystery that’s only getting deeper—but with Theo standing this close, looking at me like that, my pulse has completely different priorities.

His voice drops, low and deliberate. “What do you say, Selene? Are you up for a little adventure?”

I inhale sharply, trying to ignore the heat curling low in my stomach. “That depends.”

He raises a brow. “On what?”

I lean in just slightly, letting my voice go soft and teasing. “On whether or not you can keep up.”

For a second, he looks caught off guard. Then, his grin spreads slow and wicked, like I just issued the most irresistible challenge.

“Oh, Sweetheart,” Theo murmurs, his eyes darkening with dangerous intent. “You have no idea what you just started.”

15

Theo

Selene has no idea what she’s started.

She thinks she’s teasing, thinks she’s setting the pace, but she doesn’t realize just how much I enjoy a challenge. And when she leans in, all soft confidence and quiet fire, telling me I need tokeep up—yeah, I feel that hit somewhere deep, somewhere reckless.

So I take my time.

I watch her, lingering in the tension, letting the air between us tighten like a wire pulled taut. She’s still leaning in, waiting for my response, and I let my gaze flick to her lips for just a second before meeting her eyes again.

“You really thinkI’mthe one who needs to keep up?” I murmur, just low enough to make her breath catch.

Her pupils dilate—just a little—but I catch it.

She recovers fast, tilting her head, considering me like she’s debating her next move in a game I didn’t realize we were playing. “I don’t know,” she says, voice smooth as silk. “Guess we’ll find out.”

Damn.

I grin, closing the distance another inch, just enough to feel the warmth of her body, to make sure she’s completely aware of how little space is left between us. “I like a little mystery,” I admit, letting my fingers skim the edge of the counter beside her. “But just so you know, I don’t play games I don’t intend to win.”

She exhales a laugh, shaking her head. “Oh, Sweetheart, you havenoidea what you just started.”

It’s the exact thing I said to her minutes ago, and hearing it thrown back at me in that sweetly taunting voice makes my chest tighten with emotion.

I should kiss her.

I reach out, slow and deliberate, brushing my fingers against hers where they rest on the counter. She inhales sharply but doesn’t move away, staring into my eyes. Her head tilts up as I trail the tips of my fingers across her jaw. Once she’s at the perfect angle I close the distance between us, slowly lowering my mouth to hers.

Then I—

BANG