Page 11 of Covert Temptation

And she wouldn’t be interrogated for, oh…was it the fifth time or the sixth?

He guided her through the arched entryway, his grip on her arm a silent reminder of her status—suspect. His touch didn’t hurt, but it branded her all the same.

“Let go,” she said tightly, stopping a few steps into the corridor.

Dante drew up short. The glare in his eyes never let up, and she saw the tendon in his jaw bulge. Then he released her. His gaze panned over her face, searching. For what, she didn’t know.

“Stay right by me,” he said in a low tone that brooked no argument. His words were like waving a red flag, urging her to argue with the man.

They rounded the corner—and there she was.

Alyssa.

Kennedy’s breath caught. She hadn’t seen her since it all went down—since the spyware, the revelation, thebetrayal. At least, it looked like betrayal to Alyssa and the Charlie team too.

She gave her boss…herfriend…a tentative smile. “Hi.”

Alyssa didn’t return the smile.

Kennedy’s heart plummeted.

Dante steered her into a side room, and Alyssa followed them.

When he released Kennedy, she squared her shoulders and straightened to her full height. If she was going to be interrogated, she was going to carry herself with poise, dammit.

She knew the space well. There were no windows, just a table and two chairs. The same as last time. And the time beforethat. For now, it was her prison. The door clicked shut behind her, sealing them in.

Before anyone asked her to take a seat at the table, Kennedy pulled out a chair, making sure the legs grated on the marble floor, and sank to it, crossing her legs and drawing her Dior trench coat around her like a shroud.

Alyssa sat across from her, stone-faced and professional, as if they hadn’t once taken selfies together in every country they traveled to around the world.

Alyssa turned her head to look at Dante. “Give us a minute please.”

He didn’t look like he wanted to leave, but he took himself off, quietly closing the door behind him.

“We need to talk,” Alyssa said without preamble.

Kennedy nodded. “I know.”

Silence beat in the air like it had wings. Big, webbed ones that belonged to a night creature.

Alyssa’s voice was cold but curious. “What makes you think it was Cipher?”

Kennedy’s throat tightened, but her voice stayed level. “Remember when we went to the UN about six months ago?”

“Yes.”

“Shaw—”

Alyssa flinched at the name of her mentor whose death was so fresh in all their minds.

She leaned across the table. “I’m so sorry about Shaw, Alyssa.”

She gave her a small nod, throat working. “Go on.”

She did. “Shaw wanted you at that first meeting, but your schedule didn’t allow it. So I went instead.”

“I remember.”

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