Page 82 of Hidden Attraction

Her pulse steadied as she took a measured breath and dialed the number.

The line connected.

“Alyssa?” a warm voice greeted. The secretary-general at the United Nations. Her mentor. Her anchor from another life. “Is everything all right? We were told something came up.”

“Yes, I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

“No trouble at all. But you had us worried.”

She took another breath. “Thank you. I just wanted to ask a question.”

“I’m listening.”

“One time you mentioned that if I ever get tired of jetting around the globe saving people, that I have a place with you at the UN.”

A beat of silenced passed. Then, her director spoke with a note of surprise in his tone. “Consider it a standing job offer.”

Her eyes stung unexpectedly. “Thank you. I mean it.”

They said their goodbyes, and she ended the call, hand trembling slightly as she dialed the next.

This one connected more quickly.

“Alyssa?” The voice of the secretary of state she directly reported to.

“Madam Secretary. I…I have to step down.”

There was a pause.

“You’re certain?”

“Yes. This is too much. I’m still in danger, and I can’t risk anyone else. I need to disappear for a while. I can’t say more.”

The secretary of state was silent for a long moment. “You’ve given more than enough. Take the time you need. Stay safe.”

“Thank you. And one more thing. I’d like to request a favor.”

“Name it.”

“There’s a man named Mahmoud…”

When Alyssa ended the call, she dropped the phone from her ear and let her head fall back, her stare fixed on the ceiling. Everything she’d worked for—diplomatic missions, speeches at the UN, peace negotiations—all of it was now behind her.

And what was ahead?

Julian. Maybe.

But first, there was Kennedy.

She smoothed her top with trembling hands and made her way out of the office. Julian was there waiting. He took one look at her face and closed his mouth on whatever he was about to say. For that, she was thankful—and for the fact that he could read her so well.

Every step they took toward the interrogation room where Kennedy was waiting felt like walking a tightrope across a chasm. Kennedy—her assistant, her shadow, her friend, the one person she had trusted with everything.

The one who might’ve leaked her movements to Cypher.

The door was cracked open. Alyssa pushed it the rest of the way.

Kennedy looked up from the table where she was seated. Her face was pale and her hands knotted.

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