Adria knew Cole had little family or friends, but she never would have guessed this.
She only wished he had told her. Cole didn’t know about her family or the Nine. But it was common courtesy to tell your references that you were putting them down.
Her hand itched.
She handed the photo back to Maxim. “Cole doesn’t know anything. Can you get my name off his application?”
“Probably not, but I can make sure it doesn’t go further than his immediate department.”
“And what do you want in return?”
“Adria,” Maxim said.
“Maxim,” she said, staring back.
He shook his head. “You are so much like your mother.”
“Look after Cole. Text me if he needs anything,” she said, extending him her card.
“Maybe it would be better for you if he didn’t get the job,” Maxim said, taking the card in his hand.
“Absolutely not. Cole isn’t a part of this.” Adria gestured to the house. “He is innocent. Do you know how rare that is?”
Maxim nodded. “I do actually.”
Adria straightened. “Okay then. So, he gets the job and extras. Or I come visit you next time.”
Perfect teeth greeted her again. “Are you threatening a federal agent?”
Adria narrowed her gaze. She didn’t understand what was giving him the impression that they were friends.
“A threat is an impending idea that a person is unlikely to follow through on. Do I seem like the type that doesn’t follow through to you?”
Maxim’s smile faltered. “I’m sorry for what happened to you when you were younger. I was way too young, and I didn’t know how to handle it.”
The guilt. The gut-wrenching guilt she saw on his face made Adria want to run into the house. But the anger and shame raging inside her chest rooted her to the spot. “I don’t need your apologies. Not back then, and certainly not now. You valued your life above a helpless child. How can I blame you? Everyone enjoys breathing.”
Heat flashed across his face.
And that was about all the trip down memory lane she could take. She started towards the house.
Eric’s footsteps were behind her, followed by Maxim’s.
“Adria, wait.”
Adria had no intention of waiting.
“I helped your mother escape.”
Adria knew her mother had help from someone. In her heart, she knew that her mother couldn’t have done it alone.
But Adria also knew that there was another person in the equation.
The dagger was out of her waist band and she was turning before Eric or Maxim could react. A second later, her blade pressed against Maxim’s neck.
Everyone froze.
“Are you the reason she got caught?”
