“You were a girl attacked by a monster. You didn’t let anyone down.”
She pushed the cup away. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing this for her or for me.”
“Does it matter? You’re saving lives either way.”
“But am I? Three women are dead. The Countdown Killer is still out there. I’m in Montana drinking tea while?—”
“While staying alive and helping your team catch him.” Wolf leaned in another inch, close enough that she could see tiny gold flecks in his eyes. “Your job right now is to survive and go on to hunt other killers.”
“What if that’s not enough?”
“It’s everything.”
They stared at each other across the table, tea and cookies forgotten. The kitchen felt smaller. Warmer.
Claire was hyperaware of how close he was. The intensity in his gaze. The way his jaw tightened like he was holding himself back from...something. Her eyes dropped to his mouth, just for a second.
His phone buzzed. The spell broke.
He checked his screen. His whole body went rigid.
“What?” Claire asked, instinct driving her to stand. “What is it?”
He didn’t answer. He stood and moved to the window with his hand on his weapon.
“Wolf?”
He turned and showed her the screen. A message had come from Lynx. Her body shook as the words registered.
Stalker just posted online. ‘Found you, Claire. Montana looks good on you.’
The world tilted. Claire’s hands went numb. “He knows.” Her voice came from somewhere far away. “He knows I’m here.”
Wolf was already moving, radio in hand. “Wolf to all units. Compound lockdown. Paperclip is compromised. I repeat, Paperclip is compromised.”
Static crackled. “Lynx here. Copy that.”
“Grizzly copies.”
“Hawk copies.”
Wolf turned to her, all softness gone. This was the operator now. The weapon. “Your room. Now.”
Claire moved on shaky legs, rushing beside him down the hallway, her mind racing.
The Countdown Killer had found her. Across the country, in a classified location, with every security measure in place—he’d found her.
How? How was that even possible?
Three women were dead. She was next on his list, and the only thing standing between her and the monster who’d been hunting her was a man she’d known for less than twenty-four hours.
A man who made her feel safer than she had in fifteen years.
A man whose eyes held secrets she couldn’t name.
They reached her door. Wolf swept the room—windows, closet, bathroom. Checked locks. Tested window seals.
“Stay here,” he said. “Lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone but me or Dr. Montgomery. Understand?”
