“We’re leaving,” I say when I realize this woman still hasn’t told us who she is.
“Your friend here looks like he’d like to stay.” She cocks her head toward Maddox, the mask still covering her face as the curtain of blond hair drapes over her shoulder.
“Who the fuck are you?” Maddox asks, as I hear him close the door behind us.
But she doesn’t answer. Instead, her manicured fingers wrap around the edges of her mask as she drags it away from her face. Inch by inch, she reveals herself to us, her high cheekbones and elongated eyelids leaving no room for interpretation about who she is.
We know this face.
We’ve been searching for this face.
Fuck knows how many hours Maddox and I spent looking at her files, trying to locate her. In the end, we found out she’s a honeypot, so we came here. But we’re not looking to hire her. We’re here for information, and this woman might just be the key to everything we want to know.
Which begs the question… how did she get to us without the Matron knowing about it first?
She takes a few steps back until her hips meet the edge of a table and she leans against it. I don’t have to look at Maddox to know he’s just as stunned as I am.
“You may call me Cam. But before either of you does that, let’s get one thing straight,” she says, clicking her tongue. “I know you’ve been looking into me. But you do not summon me, gentlemen. Not now, not ever. The only reason I’ve met you is because I want something you have. And you’re going to give it to me.”
Camelia Adelstein.
Daughter of Salister Adelstein.
And first-class member of the EFW.
Her father leads the organization, and from our research, she’s been used as a puppet to carry out his dirty work, just like anyone else in that hellhole. Salister is not the man who makes exceptions, not even for his own kind. But to force his own daughter to train under the Matron is another level of fucked up.
“Camelia,” Maddox draws out her name, the word bitter on his tongue as he takes her in. He hasn’t been the same after Cole’s death. Neither have I. And facing any member of the EFW since then has pretty much ended in a bloodbath. But this time, we’re supposed to talk. This time we’re supposed to be fucking civilized.
If Cam is bothered by the way Maddox says her name, she doesn’t show it. And when he takes a step toward her, she doesn’t falter, either.
“You’re a hard woman to find. And yet you show up here, all alone, with two men who aren’t particularly happy about you being alive. I didn’t take you for an idiot, sweetheart.”
She scoffs, inspecting her nails.
“Women have been misjudged from the beginning of time, Senator. And you give yourself too much credit. I have no reason to fear you.” She lifts her chin in defiance, her eyes shifting between the two of us. “I need one of you to do something for me. In exchange, I’ll give you information that will both advance your presidential campaign…” She glances over to Maddox. “And keep you in charge of the military from here on,” she then says to me. “That’s why you’ve been trying to find me, isn’t it? To get information? Well, I have it. The question is… what lengths are you willing to go so you can get it from me?”
“Torture comes to mind,” I say, cracking my neck. “Wait for you until you leave the club, press some chloroform over your nose and mouth, that kind of thing.”
“Might I remind you it took youmonthsto figure out I was a honeypot? I’m always two steps ahead of you, gentlemen. From the moment my name popped up on your search results, I knew. And I made sure you wouldn’t find me until I wanted you to know where I was. Now—”
“What do you want?” Maddox growls. “And since you seem to be so damn resourceful, why are we even having this conversation? You seem quite capable of doing your own dirty work.”
A flicker of a smirk flashes on Cam’s face before she crosses her arms.
“Capable, yes. But contrary to your assumptions, I’m not an idiot. As a honeypot, my hands are tied. We’re not permitted to dispose of people outside of the jobs we are assigned. If we do…” She breathes in as her eyebrows rise. “The Matron disposes of us next.”
“We’re not murdering anyone for you,” Maddox deadpans.
Aren’t we? I don’t fucking like it, but if her intel is good enough, we might. Classic Maddox, though, to shut down the idea before hearing out the rest of the details. Can’t say I blamehim—heisrunning for president, after all. He can’t get his hands any more dirty than he already has.
But I can.
Cam smiles as if she doesn’t believe him. “The deal is… you get rid of Governor Castillo for me. And I’ll give you your intel. It’s big. And without it, you’re screwed. Both of you.”
A moment of silence passes between the three of us. I can’t help but notice the way she holds her breath in anticipation of our agreement, as if she’s scared that we’re going to refuse. As if she needs us more than we need her. The question is—what for?
“Tell me this, Miss Adelstein…” I say.
