Femme Fatale

Chapter Five: Blast From The Past

Jo had not heard from her brother in years. And yet here he was, sitting on her couch with his dirty sneakers on her pristine coffee table and a laptop resting on his lap. There were a million thoughts running through Jo's head, but she knew the first thing she had to do was get Scott out of the apartment.

She turned to Scott, who looked puzzled, and ushered him out. As she shut the door closed behind them, she turned to the bartender. "I'm really sorry," Jo said.

"Why did he call you Jo?" Scott asked. "And who is he?"

"Jo is my nickname. It's short for Josephine - my middle name," she answered smoothly. She never told Scott her middle name, so she assumed he'd be none the wiser.

"And the guy on my couch is my ex-boyfriend. I guess he still has a copy of my spare key."

Scott's brow furrowed, but before he could ask another question, Jo cut in. "You should go, though. I can handle this on my own. Can I call you later?"

Jo knew she would neither call him nor explain the situation. What could she possibly even say?

My long lost brother broke into my apartment? I come from a family of spies? I tried to run away from my past but it found me?

Scott could tell she wanted him to leave, so he wasn't going to push it too much.

"Are you sure you'll be okay? Is this guy dangerous?

Jo smiled at him. "I'll be fine. Promise."

She'd be just fine, but her brother wouldn't be. She was going to kill Thomas Bennett.

* * * * * *

"What the hell are you doing here? How did you even get in?" Jo yelled at Thomas.

"Hello to you, too, baby sis," he said, amused.

Jo glared at him with daggers in her eyes.

"If looks could kill, I'd be dead right now," Thomas joked.

His merry attitude angered her even more. "Too bad they can't. Guess I'll just have to do the deed myself," she threatened as she stomped over to her idiot brother. His eyes widened, finally realizing his sister might actually murder him.

The doorbell rang.

"What in the..." Jo's voice trailed off.

Did Scott come back? Couldn't he take a hint?

"Saved by the bell!" Thomas crowed.

"This isn't over," Jo warned as she went to answer the door. She turned the handle and opened it.

"Listen, Scott-" Jo stopped mid-sentence and gasped. It wasn't the Lucky's bartender.

It was Jake Foley, her brother's best friend and her childhood love.

"Who's Scott?" Jake asked with a boyish grin. "I'll kill him!" he joked.

Jo's heart skipped a beat, and she could only stare at him in stunned silence. It was at that moment she realized why she was so drawn to the handsome bartender in the first place: he reminded her of Jake.

Jake's green eyes still had that same sparkle that she grew to love, and he was looking at her with an intensity that made her heart swell three sizes. In that moment, Jo forgot all about the earlier fiasco with Scott.

Jake looked even better than she remembered. His dark, wavy hair complemented his beautiful green eyes, and all she wanted to do was nuzzle his face.