Page 60 of The Villain

Me? All that, and the person he had a fucking problem with was me?

I yanked my arm away and stepped in front of him. Got inhis fucking face. He didn’t control me or my anger—or my right for answers.

“Talk to her like what? Like she’s a suspect? Like she hasn’t been associated with a criminal and could’ve been involved this whole time?”

Brandon was taking everything in the divorce—she told me he’d taken everything. Why wouldn’t she jump at the chance for an easy $50K to spy on Ivans for GrowTech? And why would she admit to it, especially when she was wounded and her life was in jeopardy?

“Don’t talk to her like she’s Amira.”

I froze. I hated when they said her name—when they reminded me that they remembered my failure, too. When any of them reminded me that I was the one responsible for Ryan’s death.

Instantly, the anger I’d aimed at him returned to its rightful target.Me. I stepped back, self-loathing sitting like acid on my tongue, and headed for the elevator.

Ty’s growl of disapproval chased my retreating steps, but he didn’t try to stop me again. I punched in my code, and the elevator doors opened, but before I stepped inside, I looked at him and said, “I won’t be made a fool of again.”

He didn’t respond except with a pointed stare. Not pointed—barbed. A barbed stare that stuck to my mind, so later I could remember he knew I was about to make a mistake.

Rage pulsed like electricity under the edge of my skin, charging each of my furious steps faster toward my cabin and simultaneouslybombarding me with memories that fell like rockets from the tragedy of my past.

“Are you sure her intel is good? That they’re moving tonight?” Harm had demanded confirmation.

“When has her intel not been good?” I’d felt offended for her. Angry at his question.

“Never.”

“Then what’s your point?” I’d gotten in his face.

“My point is that while what she’s given us has been accurate, right now, moving up our infiltration, goes against all of the other intel we’ve received.”

“You think she’s lying?” I was furious in an instant. Harm was the rational one, while anger had always been my strong suit. “She’s risking everything to help us—everything to help me.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.” I hadn’t hesitated.

Me. He’d trusted me. Not Amira. His brother. And my stupid fucking heart had led us to our deaths.

Never again.

Rob and Athena were talking as I threw open the door. Athena jumped, gripping the blanket on either side of her, where she sat at the edge of the bed.

Rob fired an angry glare at me. “What the hell?—”

“Who—”

“Were they paying you to spy on Ivans?” I demanded, stalking right past Rob and lowering until my face was inches from Athena’s.

I wiped every memory of her beauty and her kindness and her grace from my mind, leaving nothing but a blank slate to scrutinize her.

“What?” Athena choked, her brows pulling together.“What are you?—”

“Did GrowTech pay you to get close to Ivans?” I growled, searching every grimace and flicker in her expression for a crack that would lead me to the truth. “Did they pay you for information on him?”

“Me? Pay me? I don’t understand.”

“Yes. You,” I snarled, my brain short-circuiting at her heartbreaking tone. The sight of her face morphed into another’s. Her blond hair turning black. Blue eyes deepening to brown. My mind spliced present with the past—Athena with Amira.

“No! Why would you think they paid me?

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