If Mazir had never killed my father, I wouldn’t have this fight. If I hadn’t failed in my mission, I wouldn’t be breaking myself apart. If I weren’t so stupid, I would’ve stayed in Virginia Beach and worked it out with Mark. But my life has consisted of choices, and those choices have consequences.

“When I walk out this door, don’t come to me when you need anything. We’re done. We’re fucking done.”

I step forward and put the final nail in our coffin. “We never were, so we were done from the start. Good luck finding who’s after you.”

Mark grips my arms and pulls me tight. “I’m not the only one who has someone after them. Remember that, Charlie. Remember what happened at your mother’s party.”

“You should go,” I say. I need him to stop talking.

He releases me and opens the door, but then he hesitates. I want to rush into his arms and tell him I’m sorry. If only this were the movies. His shoulders rise and fall as he grips the doorframe. “You should know something.” His green eyes lock with mine. “We were something. We were everything. We could’ve had it all, but you’re too scared. I hope you think about this when you’re alone. I hope you remember just how good we were. I hope it fucking hurts your stone heart.”

My lips part. I want to say something in return, but Mark’s hands fall and he closes the door behind him. He’s taking away a piece of my heart—and the promise of something that could’ve been fantastic.

I slump in the chair, close my eyes, and wait for the master of manipulation to emerge. When I open them again, I’ll be done with my hurt. Well, as far as anyone can see. Inside is another story.

Inside my heart, I’m broken. I’ve just died, and I don’t think I’ll ever recover. I love him so much that I’m willing to break myself. I’ll hold on to the notion that I did the most selfless thing I could. I saved him.

Christopher’s chair scrapes against the floor. I open my eyes as the file magically reappears.

My fingers slide across the rough file folder. “I’m in.”

“I knew you wouldn’t resist. Go ahead. Open it.”

Without another thought, I flip it open, and ready myself for a mission that will probably be the end of either my career or my life.

Empty.

The file is empty.

I meet Christopher’s gaze and attempt to hide the fury that’s building inside. He tricked me. He forced my hand to push Mark away, and the folder has nothing inside. If I weren’t a hundred percent sure that he has eyes, ears, and God only knows what waiting for me to react, I’d break his neck.

“Well played, Charlie. You surprise me.”

“What do you want?” I fold my hands in my lap. I try to appear as though I knew this was his plan all along. Even though I have no idea why he’s surprised, I’m the one with a blank file.

He crosses his leg over his knee and leans back. Smug prick. “I want what should be in that file.”

My eyes widen as though I’m genuinely shocked. There’s no way I can ever let them know what I have. “And that would be?”

“Let’s not play games. You and I both know your father would’ve passed the information to the only person he trusted—you.”

“Sir,” I say. I’m still trying to ensure I display the appropriate reactions. Confusion is the one I’m working with now. “If I knew anything that my father knew, wouldn’t I have already gotten Mazir?”

He studies me, watching for a tip that I’m lying. They know my tells. They know my every move. They created it, but they don’t understand how far I’m willing to go for this. “Unless that was part of your plan.”

“What plan?” Now I work on anger. “How dare you question my loyalty to this agency? I’ve worked my entire life in service of this country. I lost a parent who was everything to me. I’ve had countless bruises and beatings, and I’ve spent years of my life on missions, all for the CIA. Now, you come in my home and do this?”

Damn. That was good.

“Cut the crap, Charlie. I trained you, and I know you better than this.”

“You apparently don’t.”

“I knew your father. He would’ve told either you or me. He would’ve never left any chance for the investigation to derail.”

I humpf and mull over that piece of information. “Well, Chris, if he didn’t share it with me, maybe you’ve known it all along. Maybe you want to push me into thinking there’s more than I actually know. I can only guess your intentions, but whatever my father had—I don’t know what it is or where he left it. Besides, you and I both know you’re not here for the reasons you claim. You’ve already proven that.”

His hand makes a loud smack when he hits the table. “I’ll give you one week. One week to fill this file with everything you know. Everything he told you. Or I’ll start picking off your family members one by one. Should we start with Priscilla . . . or Dominic? Maybe your new boy toy would like a visit?”

He really doesn’t know anything, but he’s right about my father. He would’ve told Chris. They were friends, partners in a lot of ways, and shared a lot of knowledge. Which means my father lost his trust in him somewhere along the way. There’s not a chance in hell I’m telling him a damn thing. I also don’t believe him about how long I have to get him any information. I have no time. No one ever tips their hand like that. I’ll die tonight if he doesn’t think I have what he wants, or I’ll die tonight if he thinks I’m hiding it. So, I have to fight. When I first found the file there was a handwritten note inside that warned me to trust no one.

I shake my head and huff. “I can’t tell you what I don’t know, Sir. Unless you’d like me to fabricate something?”

I alternate between addressing him by his name and title. I want to see if he notes it, responds to it, or ignores me. I’ve known him since I was a kid. There may not be any advantages for me, but I know his kind. I was raised by his clone. I try to imagine what my father would do. He’d threaten me and force me to fall at his mercy. He might alternate from good guy who wants to help to bad guy, keeping me on my toes. Good thing I’m light on my feet, and him threatening my family or Mark just makes me furious. I’ll kill him and everyone he’s ever known if he touches a hair on their heads. Bloodlust paints my vision, but I keep it in check.

“Don’t play coy with me, little girl. You’re way out of your pay grade.”

I stand because he’s out of his damn mind if he thinks he can talk to me like this. “You want information I don’t have. I want the information you think I have. So, how does this even make sense? If I knew anything, I’d be in that country right now. I’d have Mazir’s head in my hands. But I don’t. I don’t know where he is, what he’s up to, or anything more than I gave in my debrief, Sir. If I already knew what my father was up to, I never would’ve opened that file.”

Director Asher stands so we’re eye to eye. “Say what you want, Charlie. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot. You have one week to get me what should’ve been in that file. One week before I start taking matters into my own hands.”