“And now this.” Her voice drops, losing the false pleasantness entirely. “This Braxton situation. More resources. More risk. More of Zacky’s time and attention diverted from work that actually matters.”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.
Tanya leans forward slightly.
“Please do not cause further trouble.” Her words are crisp, each one landing like a small, sharp stone. “If you keep disobeying directives and acting entirely on impulse, you’ll end up getting one of our top agents killed.” She pauses, letting the weight of that settle. “And frankly, darling—agents like him don’t grow on trees. Civilians who get them killed, unfortunately, do.”
The silence that follows feels like drowning.
I don’t know how long we sit there—me frozen, her watching—before Tanya stands and smooths her skirt.
“Before I let you go, I want to tell you something, woman to woman...”
****
ZACHARIE IS ALREADYwaiting when Tanya steps out of the office, and his gaze immediately narrows the moment he sees my face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, please.”
I jump at the sound of Tanya’s voice. I hadn’t realized she’d followed me out.
She’s leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching us with an expression I can’t quite read.
“She’s a grown woman, Zacky. Stop babying her, or she’ll get you killed.”
Zacharie doesn’t even look at her.
“Let me be the judge of that.”
Something flashes across Tanya’s face—anger, maybe, or contempt—but Zacharie is already taking my hand and guiding me down the corridor, away from her, away from the fluorescent lights and the side-eyes and the suffocating weight of everything she said.
My heart aches at his touch.
I used to find his grip reassuring. Like he was the anchor that gave my whole world balance.
But now I feel like I’m the anchor between us.
Because it could very well be like Tanya said. I could end up slowing him down. Burdening him. Maybe even getting him killed because of my foolish impulsiveness.
The thought follows me out of the building, into the California sunshine, into the back of his waiting car.
Zacharie cups my chin once the door closes behind us, turning my face toward his.
“Talk to me. What did Tanya say to upset you?”
“Nothing that isn’t true.”
My voice comes out uneven, and I shake my head when he asks me to tell him anyway.
“Just...” His thumb brushes my cheek. “Don’t let any foolish thoughts enter your head.Oui?”
“Oui.”
I manage to laugh, but my heart is breaking.
If Zacharie himself thinks I’m foolish, then maybe I really am.
