Page 115 of Mission Shift

He meant it.

Every single word.

And that was a problem.

Because if he was telling the truth, then I wasn’t just angry at him.

I was angry with myself.

For believing in him in the first place—and getting myself into this situation.

For him having to come to my rescue.

For the fact that I was standing here, with every opportunity to drive this knife into his throat, and I couldn’t do it.

I shoved the knife’s handle into the palm of his hand.

Braxton stilled, wrapping his fingers around it as I let go.

Then he shifted his head slightly, listening intently, his eyes going distant.

I narrowed my eyes. “What?”

He frowned, tapping his ear. “It’s Nik. He’s in my earpiece.”

I tensed. “Nikolai Volkov?”

Before I could say anything else, he smirked. “Says he hates to interrupt ourlittle lovers’ spat, but we’ve got a problem. Malinov has noticed you’re missing.”

Ice cascaded down my spine. I wasn’t surprised. It had only been a matter of time before Malinov realized his prize had slipped out of sight, and Braxton and I had been verbally sparring in this fucking bathroom for what felt like forever.

Braxton stepped closer to me, returning my blade. “Nik says we need to move. Fast. And—”

I stood there, waiting impatiently, and shoved my feet into my shoes. “And?”

“And before we do anything, I need to get that fucking poison capsule out of your arm.” His gaze flicked to my arm as his brow furrowed. “Nik’s got an operative in the kitchen with some tools that might help. We need to head there first.”

I glanced at the door, then the window, my pulse racing. Every instinct screamed at me to jump out andrun. But my options were limited, and Braxton was the only thing standing between me and Malinov’s retribution.

Slowly, he lifted his hand—palm up. An offering.

A choice.

I closed my eyes for half a second, forcing myself to decide whether I trusted him.

Then I placed my hand in his, and his fingers closed around mine.

Chapter thirty-five

Ieased up to the door, listening. There were muted voices and music in the distance, but nothing sounded close. I twisted the handle, preparing myself for what might stand in my way.

Daria shifted beside me, her dress rustling as she adjusted her stance. She was absolutely focused, her beautiful long neck pulsing with tension.

I cracked the door open an inch. The hallway was empty…for now. I glanced at her. She nodded once.

“Time to move,” she said, not an ounce of fear in her voice.

Nik’s voice cut through the earpiece. “Malinov’s pissed. He just ordered a couple of his guys to find you.” There was a beat of silence. “You have maybe sixty seconds before they reach the ballroom entrance.”

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