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3
Anissa
I hustle from the café, my hands shaking as I cross the street and escape into the tainted sanctuary of my apartment building.
The tremble isn’t from fear.
Oh, no. I refuse to let him get to me that way.
What I feel is fury. Spite. And a huge desire for retaliation.
I ride the elevator to the fifth floor and quickly rush to open my apartment. I’m already ru
I run down the hall to my kitchen, slam my cell on the counter, then strip, leaving my sweat-soaked clothes strewn all over the floor. Then it’s a mad dash to the bathroom, where I stop on the threshold at the sound of my cell.
“Damn it.” I rush back to the kitchen and read the screen. Taggert. “Shit.”
One missed call is acceptable. Two means I’m in trouble, but three is a clear sign I’m about to get my ass whipped.
I swipe to co
“What kind of change?” he growls.
I contemplate keeping the truth to myself. If I could slide this under the rug along with everything else, my life would be less complicated. Unfortunately, I’ve hidden too much to keep track of. “I ran into Cole Torian. He sought me out and wanted to talk.”
Silence greets my admission. Cold, judgmental silence.
“I took the opportunity to try and get some information out of him.”
“And did you?” His tone is lethal, laced with anger and not even a hint of curiosity.
“I’m not sure. I’ll need to do some research. For all I know, he was wasting my time in a vain attempt to intimidate me.”
“And let me guess; you were there on your own.”
“Yes, but—”
“Get to the office,” he snarls.
“Sir, let me explain.”
“Get to the office. Now.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and clench my free hand into a fist. “But I pla
The line disco
I’ve been a target for Taggert’s anger for too damn long, and this shit is growing old. Fast. He has no right to judge me for my father’s actions. I’ve done nothing wrong.
Nothing but let a smart-mouthed informant slip through my fingers.
I slam my cell down on the counter and stalk to the bathroom. This time, I don’t even contemplate a much needed shower. I bathe Irish-style, dousing my sweat in a truckload of deodorant, before I dress in one of Cole’s favorite pantsuits and head for the door.
I don’t even do my hair or spare a few minutes for makeup.
If Taggert wants to see a dragon, I’ll give him one.
I reach the Bureau less than twenty minutes later and walk into my department on the third floor to find a frenzy of scrambling colleagues. Agents rush to answer phone calls. Assistants hustle to get coffee. And I start to second guess my decision to use the quiet car ride to mellow myself out instead of listening to the radio.
Something has happened.
Something that has put me in the firing line.
I cut through the war zone, increasing my pace through the middle of the partitioned desk spaces until I reach Taggert’s office at the end of the building.
He’s already glaring at me as I approach, his face flushed.
“Good morning,” I mutter in greeting. It’s a far stretch from sarcasm, but he wouldn’t have missed my contempt.
“Close the door behind you.”
I ignore the instinct to panic and do as he requests, closing us into the confined space and coming to stand between the two leather chairs situated before his desk. “What’s going on?”
“You tell me.” He leans forward, placing his elbows on the desk to steeple his fingers. “I want to know where the fuck your head’s at.”
“I’m sorry, but I missed the news flash. I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Then tell me what you do know. What happened between you and Cole Torian?” he asks, as if my actions are a dirty little secret. Like I’ve committed a cardinal sin.
“He approached me after my run. He wanted to talk. He paid for my coffee, despite my firm refusal. End of story. I thought it would be a great opportunity to get information.”
“And did you?” he drawls. “Did you actually get any information, Fox?”
“I already told you. I need to do some digging first.”
He huffs out a derisive laugh. “Let me save you the time. Whatever he told you was bullshit.”
“You don’t know that.” He couldn’t. He doesn’t have a clue about the basis of our conversation. “He said he—”
“He used you.” The derision remains in his voice, growing thicker with each passing syllable. “He played you.”
I stiffen, not appreciating the accusation even though I already know it’s true.
“He was trying to keep you busy.”
“He was?” My pulse grows frantic. My heart squeezes. “For what reason?”
“His father’s transport van was ambushed on the way to the court house.”
I don’t react. I won’t flinch despite the words that act like a physical blow.
“You were Cole’s fucking alibi.”
I raise my chin, taking the punishment as it pummels me from the inside out. “How?” My voice cracks, exposing my proximity to breaking point. “How could that happen?”
“We’re still working on it. All I know is that the driver is dead and another guard has been rushed to hospital.”
Nausea thickens at the back of my throat, the bitter taste growing stronger. I lower my gaze, no longer able to look him in the eye. “And Luther? What about him?”
“Gone.”
I press my lips shut, fighting the need to scream. My head grows heavy, my arms and legs, too. I’m weighed down by failure. But the shame is heavier, threatening to suffocate me.
I’d known Cole had deliberately sought me out. I’d never assumed it was a coincidence. I’d just had no clue how badly he wanted to screw me over.
He’d wanted my degradation. My complete and utter humiliation.
And now he has it.
“I’ll find him,” I vow. “I’ll get Luther back.”
I have to. There’s no other choice. My reputation was on its last legs before today; now it’s completely shattered. I need to be the one who makes this right.
“No.” Taggert’s rejection hits hard. “You’re going to do the opposite. I need you to take some time off.”
“You’re suspending me?” My gaze snaps to his. “No. Please.” I take a step forward. “Don’t do this.”
“It’s not a suspension. It’s time off. You haven’t taken a break in over a year.”
“Forced leave is as good as a suspension. All it does is save you the paperwork.”
He gives me a brittle smile. “And I thank you for it.”
I keep shaking my head. Keep refusing.
No. No. No.
This is bullshit.
“It’s only until Monday. You need the week to get your head on straight because it’s clear you can’t think to save your life at the moment.”
“I don’t need—”
“It’s not up for discussion.” He lowers his hands to the desk and pushes to his feet. “Monday. No sooner. Do you hear me?”
I grind my molars harder and harder until my jaw aches in protest.
Fuck him. Fuck Cole. Fuck the whole Torian family along with the Bureau.
I’ve lived and breathed their justice all my life. I knew I would be an FBI agent from the first time my dad showed me his badge with an insane amount of pride. This is my home. My existence. And it’s imploding around me.