Page 94 of Iron Willed Warrior

I looked up at him, letting conflicted emotions play across my face. “Sleeping my way to the top? Are you serious?”

“Completely serious. If you’re smart about it, you’ll eventually be moving in the most powerful circles in the world. All from the shadows. Which is where true power always lies. But you’ll actually be working forme. Gathering secrets and reporting back.”

“I have a choice in this?”

“No, you don’t. Brianna Waverley is dead. If you want to live, it’ll be on my terms. But this is still an opportunity.”

I pretended to consider, as if his argument made any kind of sense.

This guy truly was twisted. I had no idea if his offer was real, or if he was just playing games with his food before he sank his teeth in. But it didn’t matter. For now, I would play along.

“Ryker said something about Eric Masterson. The future senator. That I’m…agift.”

“That’s right. Masterson invested in a venture of mine, and I want to keep a close eye on him. I believe you can help me with that.”

“Spy on him for you.”

“Yes. But first, I have to know you’ll do everything I ask. You have to impress me. Do you know what I mean?” He waited. The tension in the room crackled. Westwick thought he had me hooked. That I was some kind of trapped prey that he’d almost tamed.

But he had nocluewhat was about to happen.

I sagged against the wall behind the cot. Like all the fight had left me. “I understand,” I said softly. “I’ll be good.”

“I know you will.” Westwick came toward me. One expensive leather shoe in front of the other. He sat beside me on the thin mattress and rubbed a lock of my hair between his fingers.

Adrenaline numbed my body, my emotions, everything but the singular knowledge of what I had to do.

When he sat close enough to grip the back of my neck, I launched myself at him. My arms cinched the man’s jugular in a brutal chokehold. He fell onto the mattress, kicking and grunting as he tried to get away.

I used another vicious burst of speed to twist my free leg around him, pinning him. The metal cuff on my other anklepulled hard on the bed frame. My mouth opened in a soundless scream. Rage and fury for what Westwick had done—to my best friend, the others I’d gotten to know in Hartley, the countless victims of Stillwater. And Cole. From the beginning, Cole had wanted Westwick to suffer for his crimes. I’d tried to stay more objective. Morepractical. As Westwick had just accused me of being.

But right now, I wasn’t level-headed Agent Somerton. I was just a woman who wanted vengeance against the monster who’d hurt the man she cared about.

There were a few thumps as Westwick kept struggling. Nothing loud enough to alert the guard outside. The lack of oxygen and blood flow to Westwick’s brain weakened him with each second that passed.

Finally, he went limp. Unconscious. That wasn’t enough for me. I wanted him dead.

Yet I had to force myself to stop.

I let go of the man, panting to catch my breath. My skin felt dirty everywhere I’d touched him.

Cole and I had agreed we would take Westwick alive so that we could deal a final blow to Stillwater. My mission wasn’t finished.Even if Cole wasn’t here. I shoved down the feelings that tried to rise up in my throat.

Finish the mission. Get out of here. Whereverherewas. Then, I could find out what had happened to Cole. And all the while, I’d be praying that he was okay. Because if I didn’t see his grumpy frown again, or hear him argue and lose his temper, or feel his warm, rough hands on my face…

Stop.

There would be time to wallow later. Right now, I had to move. Ryker could return any second. Especially if there were hidden cameras in here and the Stillwater guards already knew what I’d done.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Brynn

Fishing in Westwick’s pocket,I found the folding knife and keys. I unlocked the cuff on my ankle, then closed it on Westwick’s leg instead. If the asshole somehow woke up before I was ready, he wouldn’t be going anywhere.

Then, I waited for that armed guard to barge in, gun blazing. Nobody came. He hadn’t realized anything was up.

Move, I thought.

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