His small smile clawed its way into my good graces.
I started to leave, but turned back, finally gathering the courage I should have mustered weeks ago. “Lucas, does—does the name Tekqua Madden mean anything to you?”
Those arched brows drew together. “No. Why?”
My insides shrank to nothing. What had I expected?
It doesn’t mean she’s gone.
“No reason.”
It meant nothing. How many prisoners did he deal with every week? He couldn’t remember each one. He probably didn’t even pay attention to the names.
But…now what?
A quick bike ride later,I headed to Theo, but slowed at the security detail outside the door. I traded glances with them as I gingerly entered his office, then stilled when I found the Prime Delegate sitting across from him.
My skin turned to ice even as my heart broke into a heavy sprint.
It was like being in the same room as the president. Once, when Williams gave us a motivational speech after a particularly bad loss, Tekqua had leaned in and whispered, “I want to be her when I grow up.”
I had laughed and laughed.
But now I saw what she’d meant, as Williams sat there with her pristine power suit and perfect hair. The authority she possessed radiated from her very pores. The influence sheheld pressed down on my shoulders, making me feel small and inconsequential. This woman negotiated with foreign nations, commanded our armies, upheld our beliefs.
She was an icon, and I was no one.
“Sophia!” She stood to greet me.
I was frozen in the doorway. “Miss Williams.”
“I’m back from Aota’s area,” referring to the commanding officer on the eastern lines. “I’ll be here for a few weeks.”
I closed the door with a loud snap. “Any news from their neck of the woods?”
Her close-lipped smile was small but genuine. “Rumor is Russia is thinking of joining the fight against Haynes.”
“Really?”
She glanced at Theo. “The tides are truly turning, and this informant is a godsend. The NAOknowswe’re a threat now. Our ranks grow by the day, and their loyalists have discovered the regime doesn’t taste quite right. If my sources are correct, Haynes’s Security Restoration Campaign is losing ground in Canada. With Russia in the mix, the NAO won’t have a chance. Haynes’s administration is falling apart, piece by piece. We keep up this fight, and wewillhave victory in our hands.”
“That’s…great.” I tried to muster some enthusiasm, but it rang hollow.
Theo’s deep voice brought my gaze to him. “I expected you last night.”
“I had a lot of information to memorize. It took hours.”
His eyes roamed my body, searching. Did he think Lucas would leave marks? He could just ask.
It’d been weeks.
Hestillhadn’t asked.
Instead, his mouth tightened, and he tapped his fingers on the desk. “Very well. Tell us what you know.”
“Yes,” Williams said. “I’m very interested to hear what sort of information he gives you.”
I swallowed and sat beside her, proceeding to list every fact I’d learned about Jack Miller.
