Page 22 of South of Justice

“True. And you didn’t laugh. That was encouraging.”

Lucía glanced sideways at him. “You talk to everyone like this?”

“No. Just the intimidating ones.”

She smiled despite herself. A small breeze lifted the edge of her blouse. The city stretched out before them, thousands of windows blinking in the sun.

“I’ve never worked somewhere like this,” she said. “Everything’s sharp. Cold. Perfectly curated.”

Mateo nodded. “Feels like a place built to break people.”

“That’s comforting.”

“I said ‘feels like.’ Not ‘is.’”

She didn’t reply.

Then he added, voice lower now, “Look, I don’t know how long I’ll last here. But you? You’re going to eat this place alive.”

Lucía dropped her gaze and gave a quick shake of her head. “You don’t know me.”

“I don’t,” he agreed. “But I know what it looks like when someone walks in and already has a bigger game in mind.”

“What does it look like?”

His eyes roamed all over her face. There was something tender in his expression, something that made her think he was about to cross an invisible line between them. Her stomach clenched, and she groped blindly for a response to have ready, something that would put him off…or maybe encourage him. She hadn’t made up her mind yet. She felt suddenly unpreparedfor this moment, like she was about to be asked a question by a teacher when she hadn’t done the reading yet.

But just as he opened his mouth, the door behind them opened and Javier stepped onto the rooftop. He didn’t look surprised to see them.

Lucía froze.

“Castillo,” Javier said coolly, his eyes barely flicking to Mateo. “Back to your station.”

Mateo stiffened. “Yes,señor.”

He threw Lucía a glance—brief, but cautious—then left without another word.

When the door closed behind him, Javier crossed the roof in slow steps, hands in his pockets. “I didn’t realize the break schedule included off-grid locations,” he said.

Lucía swallowed. “I needed air.”

“This isn’t the air you want to breathe in this city,” he said. “Too full of exhaust.”

She said nothing.

Javier moved to the ledge beside her, close enough for her to feel the presence of him. Not touching. Just…close.

“You’re settling in well,” he said. “Your numbers are already outperforming second-years.”

“Thank you.”

“Castillo’s clever, but distracted. He lacks discipline. You don’t.”

Lucía’s throat was dry. “He’s kind.”

“Kindness has its uses. So does ruthlessness. You’ll learn the difference soon enough.”

She didn’t look at him, but she could feel his gaze. It seemed to touch her skin like a hand. It wasn’t appraisal. And it wasn’t desire, not exactly.