Tyken’s POV:

My name is Special Agent Tyken Bennett. And apparently, the universe has a sick sense of humor.

Because my new partner? Agent Guest. The woman who can make me clench my jaw and forget what the hell I was saying in the same breath.

She’s stubborn, sharp-tongued, and possibly the most irritating woman I’ve ever met. Unfortunately, she’s also beautiful enough to make ignoring her a full-time job.

And trust me, I’ve tried.

Now, don’t get me wrong. She’s one hell of an agent. Sharp as a tack, stubborn as a mule, and annoyingly good at seeing things other people miss. Did I specifically request her for this case? Maybe. Do I plan on admitting that she’s the best person for the job? Absolutely fcking not.

She’s already insufferable enough.

You see, our little feud started over punctuation. Punctuation. I made one harmless correction in a failed attempt to flirt, and suddenly, I’d committed the unforgivable sin of questioning her intelligence. She hasn’t let me live it down since. Every sarcastic remark, every pointed look, every time she calls me Bennett like it’s a personal insult reminds me that I’m apparently never going to hear the end of it.

And God help me, I love getting a rise out of her.

What I don’t love is the way my eyes follow her when she walks into a room. Or how that smart mouth of hers becomes considerably less annoying when she’s smiling. Or the fact that I’ve caught myself wondering what she’d be like outside the Bureau, away from the badges, the paperwork, and the constant threat of someone putting a bullet in our backs.

Because here’s the thing about being an FBI agent: relationships are complicated. The hours are brutal, the danger is real, and letting someone close means giving them the power to hurt you in ways no suspect ever could. And dating a fellow agent? Especially your own partner? That’s a professional disaster waiting to happen.

So, naturally, I do what any sensible man would do.

I flirt just enough to annoy her, smirk whenever she threatens to punch me, and pretend I don’t notice the tension between us. Whatever this is, it’s not happening. She’s my partner, not my next bad decision… right?

Then Bossman, Supervisory Special Agent Rick, actually approves my request to put us together on a case. And just like that, I’m stuck spending every waking hour with the one woman I absolutely should not want.

Except this case isn’t a game.

Five-year-old Darianne Grace has been missing for six hours. Her parents were found dead inside their home, and the little girl has vanished without a trace. No clear answers. No obvious suspect. Just a crime scene full of questions and a child who’s running out of time.

Finding Darianne is our priority. We follow the evidence, trust our instincts, and leave nothing unchecked.

But working this closely with Guest means I’m about to discover something far more dangerous than a killer hiding in the shadows.

I can handle a murder investigation. I can handle a difficult partner.

I’m just not sure I can handle falling for the woman who’d rather strangle me than admit she might like me, too.

Rick’s POV: My name is Supervisory Special Agent Richard “Rick” Reynolds.

After years with the Bureau, I’ve learned two things: trust your instincts, and never underestimate an agent who has something to prove.

Bennett and Guest might argue like they can’t stand the sight of each other, but I’ve seen them work. Beneath the sarcasm and petty bullshit, they’re damn good agents. Bennett has the patience and instincts; she has the sharp eye and determination. Together? They’re better than either of them would care to admit.

That’s why I approved Bennett’s request to partner with her. Not to settle their little rivalry, and certainly not to play matchmaker. I assigned them together because I know what they’re capable of when they stop trying to get under each other’s skin.

Five-year-old Darianne Grace is missing. Her parents are dead, and time is running out.

I need my best agents focused, working together, and bringing that little girl home alive. Whatever personal issues they have, they can sort them out on their own time.

Because on my watch, the job comes first.