“Lee!” Mark yells for Natalie as we sit in his office. After we returned from the vineyard, we agreed to get back to determining the source of Cole Security Force’s issues. I really like Jackson and Catherine and don’t want to see something happen. When she doesn’t come quickly enough—which, let’s face it, is two seconds—he calls her again. “Sparkles!”

“Are you sure you weren’t dropped on your head as a child?” I ask from beside him. “I know you have a phone intercom.”

He shrugs. “This is so much more fun.”

“What?” Natalie glares at him from outside the door. I like her so much.

“Thanks for coming so fast.”

Her lips purse as she continues to shoot him dirty looks. “I was summoned. What do you need? I’m up to my eyeballs in bids.”

That’s a good thing. At least, given their issues, they’re not losing contracts. “I want to check in with all the employees. Get a sense of what’s going on.”

Natalie’s head tilts to the side as she studies him. And since this is Mark, it’s like a secret language. “I’m not catching what you’re throwing.”

I laugh under my breath.

“Just send Erik in,” he instructs.

She steps toward the door with aggression rolling off her. “God forbid you use the damn phone and call him. I swear you only do this to me.” Natalie turns on her heel and stomps off.

“I love you. Let’s make more sparkly babies!” he yells after her and then turns to me. “I don’t really, beautiful. Don’t get jealous.”

“I hate you!” I hear Natalie’s faint response.

“I’m far from jealous. She and I might team up and form a club.”

He’s so full of himself it’s a wonder he can manage to hold his head up. But then again, I know it’s all a front. Mark isn’t really self-centered. In some ways, he’s almost selfless. He’ll give up anything for someone he loves. He’ll take a bullet for a friend or go to the ends of the world to find out who’s causing havoc in their life.

Erik knocks on the door a moment later. “Lee said you wanted to see me?”

“Come in,” Mark says to him before he returns his attention to me. “See, she really does love me.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself.” I return to the file I’ve been studying for the last hour. It has a lot of unimportant information, but it also has this photo. I swear I’ve seen it before.

Erik sits, and they start bullshitting. I try to tune them out and focus on the photo, but I’m only growing frustrated. This is one time I wish I could call Mandi and have her run it. I consider the idea, because she would help me. At least I think she would. Of course, it could put her at risk, but she might be able to do it without alerting anyone.

I decide to press it a little and see if she bites. Instead of texting her on her regular number, I use the phone that only she and I know about. If she responds, it means she’s willing to talk.

Me: Hey, sorry how we left things.

I send the text and wait.

“Did you and Garrett hang this weekend or do anything fun?” Mark asks. The two babble on and on about whatever. I try not to listen and not to let my nerves go haywire as I wait for Mandi to respond.

“You know your brother.” Erik laughs. “Always up for doing something stupid.”

“I figured I’d see him more now than I did when he was in New York, but I actually see him less.” Mark turns to me. “Erik lives with my younger douchebag brother.”

“Ahh,” I comment, feigning interest.

My indifference must show, because Erik laughs at the expression on my face, and then he continues his conversation. “I really never see him, which makes him the perfect roommate.”

“He should’ve just moved in with Annika.”

Mandi: I’ve been worried about you.

Me: I wasn’t sure you’d respond.

It’s true. There was a good chance she wouldn’t. If I’m honest, she shouldn’t have. But this is good. This is something to hold on to. With her help, we could really do this.

Mandi: I wasn’t sure I should, but you wouldn’t be texting if it weren’t important.

“Are you two done being girls?” I ask. I need this conversation to stop. “I’d like to get back to DC sometime today. I’m tired of being your hostage, so the sooner you get this done, the sooner I can head home.”

The grin on his face forewarns me that I’m going to pay for that. “You’ll go home when I’m ready for you to go home.”

I glare at him as he’s sure as hell going to pay for that.

Erik laughs. “We see who wears the pants in this relationship.”

“Shut up. You’re dismissed. Send in the next of my royal subjects.” Mark stands with his arms spread open.

“Mark, we should talk,” I say as the next minion approaches the doorway.

“Or better yet, we’ll do this again when I’m in the mood.”

A few people laugh from the corridor, and Mark shuts his door in the guy’s face. “What’s going on?”

“We have hope. We have Mandi in our corner.”

Mark scowls. “Isn’t this the same girl who sold you out at your debrief?”

“Yes, but she’s answering on the line only she and I know about.”

“And you think this is a good idea?”

“I think it’s our best shot.”

His eyes drift as he seems to weigh his thoughts. “You trust her?”

“I trusted her with my life. I don’t think she’d double-cross me. And the info I’d send her wouldn’t be crucial.”

He shakes his head, “I don’t want to involve the agency.”

“We’re not.”

“We are.” He slams his hands on the desk. “I say no. I don’t want you to do it. I think we can find information another way. I don’t want the CIA involved.”

“Mark.”

“No, I don’t trust them.” His eyes close and he lets out a deep breath. “Look, I think they’re behind who drugged you.”

No. I mean, it’s not impossible, but it’s highly improbable. I’m not a risk. It makes no sense that they’d drug me. Plus, where the hell would he come up with this idea? He has no proof.

“I think you’re wrong.”

He crosses his arms. “I’m not. I’m telling you, there’s something going on, and I’m not going to let you risk it.”

“Mark,” Lee says over the intercom and interrupts our argument. “Sorry to bother you, but there’s an issue with the bid. Can you look at this?”

“Sure.” He stands but turns to me before he goes. “We’ll finish this when I get back, but my answer is no. I don’t want anyone from there tangled up in this. We’ll handle it. Just us.”

Mark exits the room, and I start to pace. Let me? Let me risk it. I hear the words over and over, but I don’t agree with him. I think he’s shortsighted in realizing the information I can get if Mandi comes on board.

I know it’s a stretch, but if she’s willing to gather info that I can’t get, then I can dig deeper. It’ll take less time, less energy, and there will be less of a chance of being exposed. There are a lot of cards laid out, but if we can use the resources of the agency, then it’ll be okay. If we can just have everyone not disappear, get shot, or be taken hostage then we can get our answers. He’s not calling the shots on this one. It’s my handler, and I trust her. I grab my phone.