My heart pounding as I study her expression, I ask, “Can I try to turn him?”
“Turn Phoenix? You think he’d walk away from making tens of millions and work for us?”
I shrug. “To save Coco, he might.”
“You’d be blowing your cover. That would mean a reassignment far away from here.”
“Unless it works.”
Rae arches her brows, looking impressed. “You’re willing to risk it? Because we can send another agent to try to turn him.”
“I don’t think anyone else will be able to get through to him like I can.”
She leans forward in her chair, speaking in a low tone. “This is serious, Kennedy. He could agree and then shoot you in the head at his first opportunity and split. Or not agree and shoot you on the spot.”
I lift my chin, trying to sound more confident than I feel right now. “I’m the one who’s been working him, and I’m asking for a chance to turn him.”
“In exchange for dropping the charges against Caroline Dunning?”
“Yes. And maybe…”
“What?” She narrows her eyes.
“I don’t know. Maybe I don’t make Nix into a card-carrying Greenlight field agent. Maybe he just becomes a source for us.”
“He’s pretty high on the food chain for that.”
“Just…let me find out what the options are with him.”
She nods. “I’ll have to get the director’s approval. And I want to go with you.”
“No. Just me.”
She shakes her head in frustration. “Do you have a death wish?”
“I’m just following my gut. My wise handler once told me to do that.”
“Ha.” Rae gives me a wry grin. “Don’t try to kiss my ass.”
“Make this happen for me, okay? Please? I know you have pull with the director.”
“I’ll do my best.” She sighs deeply. “But if he kills you, I’ll be pissed at you for a really long time.”
“Got it.”
The door to the glass conference room opens, and people start filing out. The director meets Rae’s eyes and starts walking toward her.
“All right, I’ll let you know,” Rae says to me.
“You’re the best.”
She gives me a sad smile. “I was once.”
“Still are. I wouldn’t want anyone else at my back.”
My pulse is pounding as I walk over to my desk. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rae following the director into his office.
I know Nix is one of the bad guys I’m supposed to bring down. But I can’t do that unless I have no other options. He went to bat for me with Grayson. Now it’s my turn to do the same for him.
