Page 49 of Critical Mass
“Good.” Natalie moved to the table, looking at the maps and documents spread across it. “Then let’s discuss specifics. What exactly do you need me to do?”
She didn’t look at Hudson. Didn’t acknowledge the way his gaze seemed to burn into her from across the room.
She was done with Hudson Roberts. Done with being manipulated, done with trusting people who only saw her as a tool to be used.
From now on, this was purely business.
And if her heart twisted painfully in her chest every time she heard his voice, well—that was just another lie she’d have to tell.
Starting with the one she told herself: that hearing him dismiss their entire relationship as “nothing more” than cover hadn’t hurt at all.
Hudson couldn’t help but notice the tension in the conference room was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Natalie sat across the table from him, her posture rigid, her eyes carefully avoiding his. The warmth that used to light up her face when she looked at him was gone, replaced by cool professionalism.
He’d done that. He’d destroyed whatever trust they’d had.
How much had she just heard? There was no need to ask.
She wouldn’t believe anything he said to refute it anyway.
He walked to the coffee pot and made her a cup, knowing nothing he could do would earn him any bonus points right now. It didn’t matter.
Natalie took the coffee from him with barely a glance.
“We’ve gathered some new intelligence overnight.” Colton gave her the update on the operative that was captured.
“Who could those men be working for?” Natalie asked, a knot of confusion on her brow.
“Apparently your father has enemies.” Ty’s gaze locked on Natalie. “We believe the men who attacked you last night weren’t working for Richard Ravenscroft. They were working against him.”
Natalie’s expression didn’t change, but Hudson saw her grip tighten on her coffee mug. “You’re saying my father didn’t send them after me?”
“We don’t believe so,” Colton confirmed. “Your father has been consolidating power within Sigma, which means other players are being pushed out. Some of them want revenge. Hurting you would hurt him.”
“So I’m a target because of who my father is.” Natalie’s voice sounded flat as she said the words. “Not because of what I might know.”
“Essentially, yes.” Ty leaned forward. “Which actually works in our favor for the next phase of the operation.”
Hudson didn’t like where this was going. “How so?”
“Because Natalie has a legitimate reason to tell her father what happened last night,” Colton explained. “She was attacked. She’s scared. It gives her a reason to stay close to her dad, to ask questions that might otherwise seem suspicious.”
Natalie was quiet a moment, processing. “And Hudson’s cover? Do you still think that’s intact?”
“We don’t believe it’s been compromised,” Ty said. “The attack seemed opportunistic—these operatives followed you from your house and waited for an isolated location to attack. If they’d known Hudson’s real identity, we believe they would have approached the situation differently.”
“So what’s the plan?” Natalie’s voice was steady, businesslike.
Hudson hated hearing her sound so detached, but he forced himself to focus on the tactical discussion.
“You tell your father what happened,” Colton said. “But you frame it carefully. You and Timothy were at the beach—somewhere romantic, private. These men confronted you, tried to grab you. Timothy fought them off and got you to safety. You were terrified, you’restillterrified, and now you want to keep Timothy close because he makes you feel protected.”
“That gives you a reason to have Hudson around more,” Ty added. “He’ll have more access to your father’s schedule, hisassociates, his plans. And it explains any suspicious behavior—you’re traumatized, you’re clingy, you’re scared to be alone.”
Natalie nodded, the action slow and measured. “And my father will increase security around me, which means I’ll see more of his people, hear more conversations.”
“Exactly,” Colton said. “But, Natalie, you need to understand—this puts you in a difficult position. You’ll be lying to your father’s face while trying to determine if he’s the threat we believe he is. Can you do that?”
