"Because if she is the threat," I said instead, "I'd rather have her where I can see her. Keep your enemies close, right?"
"That saying usually gets people killed."
"Maybe. But it's better than hiding and wondering when the bullet's coming."
Stone sighed. Accepted defeat. "Fine. But we do this smart. Extra security. Forrest monitors everything she does. We watch who she talks to, where she goes, what she accesses. At the first sign of anything wrong—"
"We handle it."
"No." Stone's voice hardened. "I handle it. You're too close to this. If she makes a move, you let me deal with her."
The thought of Stone "dealing with" Julia—of her being a threat at all—made something twist in my chest.
"Agreed." I lied.
If Julia Russell was here to kill me, I'd take care of it myself.
One way or another.
Chapter 9
Julia
Friday morning arrived too quickly.
I'd spent the past two nights practicing. Breathing techniques. Visualization. The mental tricks Aunt Filomena had drilled into me since I was sixteen.
"The machine measures physical responses,"she'd told me."Heart rate, blood pressure, perspiration. Control your body, control the test."
Easy in theory.
Harder when you're lying about everything except the one thing you desperately want to hide.
My attraction to Quentin Vanetti.
I pulled into the Vitality Ventures parking garage at 9:45 a.m. Fifteen minutes early. Professional. Eager.
Not at all like someone whose entire identity was fabricated.
You can do this. You've been trained for this.
I checked my reflection in the rearview mirror. Navy suit, minimal jewelry, hair pulled back. Conservative. Trustworthy.
Liar,the reflection whispered back.
I ignored it.
∞∞∞
The receptionist directed me to a conference room on the third floor. Smaller than where we'd had the interviews. More intimate.
More claustrophobic.
Stone was already there, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Beside him stood another man—shorter, slighter, with wire-rimmed glasses and the intense focus of someone who saw the world in code.
"Miss Russell." Stone's voice was neutral. Cold. "This is Forrest Slater. He'll be administering the polygraph."
"Nice to meet you." I extended my hand.
