Page 28 of Knight

“And that’s the only reason you’re still breathing.”

“Fuck you!” I can’t stop myself.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m not interested. I prefer my dates to at least buy me dinner first.” His tone could freeze hell. “And they don’t typically break into my apartment.”

“I’m leaving.” I push away from the wall, and for one heart-stopping moment, I don’t think my legs are going to hold me up. But then they steady, and I take a step forward. “You can’t stop me.”

“You really don’t get it, do you?” He rises, expression shifting from bored to deadly serious. “Someone spent weeks manipulating you, setting up thisexactmoment. Do you really think it was just about breaking into my apartment?”

“I didn’t break in!”

“Did I invite you?”

I glare at him.

“They gave you my access codes. That means either you know something worth manipulating you for, it’s connected to your brother’s disappearance, or you were unfortunately in a position that made you the perfect patsy.” He moves closer. “And until I figure out which it is, you’re staying right here where I can make sure you don’t disappear too.”

“You think Iknowsomething?”

“If I thought that, we wouldn’t be standing here having a pleasant conversation. You’d have a lot more injuries than you do now, unless you decided to cooperate and talk, or you’d have a bullet in your head.”

My jaw drops, icy fingers of fear sliding up my spine.

"Someone went to a lot of trouble to put you in my path. I intend to find out why."

I slide down the wall, legs giving out beneath me. Adrenaline crashes through my system, making my entire body shake.

“I don’tknowanything! Michael never talked about his work. I barely saw him, except on holidays. There’s nothing to find!”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Knight

She draws her knees up,wrapping her arms around them, visibly shaking. I don’t think it’s from exhaustion. The enforced rest took care of that. I doubt it’s from the painkillers. They’ll have long worn off. Which leaves fear or anger.

Maybe both. I have that effect on people.

I make no secret of the fact I’m studying her. Everything about her bears closer analysis now. The way she holds herself, trying to look smaller. The tight control she’s keeping over her breathing. The desperate insistence that she knows nothing about her brother’s work. Most intruders I’ve dealt with show different patterns. Calculated moves, practiced stillness, the kind of control that comes from training. She’s not followinganyof the patterns.

That detail bugs me more than it should. Most people lying about information try too hard to prove they have it. She’s doing the opposite. She’s almost frantic in her denial of knowing anything useful. Her reactions to questions are too raw, too uncontrolled. No one is that good at faking genuine terror. Not even A-list actors.

Which leaves two options. She’s either the best operative I’ve ever encountered …

Orshe’s telling the truth.

A muscle in her jaw tightens, then releases. She’s working up to something.

More protests about her innocence? Another attempt to convince me about the ‘real’ Knight?

The former I’m pretty sure I’m going to agree with. The latter … not so much.

The way she came into my apartment makes no sense, not if she was purposely sent with a mission. Valid codes but completely unprepared for any resistance. Like someone knowing the way in, but nothing about what was waiting inside.

Her hand moves to her pocket, then falls away when she sees me watching.

Nowthat’sinteresting. It isn’t a conscious move. It’s pure instinct. The kind carved into muscle memory.

Fuck. She’s reaching for a phone.

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