Page 61 of Protect Thy Enemy

Harris continues, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. “You’ll attend Senator Fallon’s fundraiser gala in two weeks. It’s the first opportunity to get close to him and gather intel. Shaw has placed you both on Fallon’s personal security escort detail, which gives you direct access to his inner circle and hismovements. He has a team guarding him at his residence, so Park and Tate will run surveillance from the sidelines."

“Will Shaw be suspicious of our identities?” I ask, forcing my voice to remain steady.

“They’ve done their vetting,” Harris replies. “As far as they’re concerned, you’re exactly who you say you are. That doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. Shaw and Fallon aren’t amateurs, and they won’t hesitate to eliminate a threat if they suspect one.”

The gravity of his words settles like a stone in my chest.

Harris finally closes the folder, leaning back in his chair. “You’ll receive the rest of the details during your briefing tomorrow. I suggest you all get familiar with each other’s roles in the meantime. Dismissed.”

As we file out of the room, the air feels heavier. I can feel Grant’s presence behind me, close enough to be unsettling but not close enough to touch.

In the hallway, I turn to Tate, desperate for a distraction. “You ready to play house?”

He grins, his easy charm cutting through some of the tension. “Oh, absolutely. I can already see it. Park and I, the perfect suburban couple. Maybe we’ll get a dog.”

Park gives him a flat look. “I hate dogs.”

“Semantics,” Tate replies with a dismissive wave.

Despite myself, I let out a small laugh, but it quickly fades when I catch Grant watching me. His gaze is steady and far too penetrating. I look away, trying my hardest to pretend I don’t notice.

Tate glances between us, his grin fading slightly. “Good luck, you two. Looks like you’ll need it.”

Park doesn’t say anything, but the weight of his stare lingers long after they walk away.

I take a deep breath and start toward my desk, but Grant’s voice stops me.

“Williams.”

I turn, my pulse quickening as I meet his dark, unreadable eyes.

“We need to talk,” he says.

“About what?”

He steps closer, his presence suffocating in the empty hallway. “This mission. Our cover. If you’re not prepared—”

“I am prepared,” I interrupt, my voice sharper than intended.

His eyes narrow, and for a moment, the tension between us feels unbearable. Then he leans in slightly, his voice dropping to a dangerous murmur. “You better be, Rookie. Because if you screw this up, it won’t just be your ass on the line.”

The words hit harder than they should, and I bristle under his scrutiny. But instead of firing back, I hold his gaze, refusing to let him see the cracks in my composure.

“Are you finished?” I ask evenly. Noticing there’s not a trace of the person from this past weekend. I don’t know if I’m grateful for it or irritated.

His jaw ticks, but he steps back, his expression unreadable once again. “For now.”

Without another word, he turns and walks away, leaving me standing there with my heart pounding in my chest and his words hanging over me.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Arden

Imake my way down the familiar hallway, my boots clicking softly against the polished floor.

It’s been two weeks since I last came to see Gran. The second longest I’ve gone without visiting in years. I tell myself it’s because of work, but the truth is more complicated than that.

The door to her room is slightly ajar, and I’m about to knock when a voice stops me.

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