"And the three low-level moles? Morrison, Chen, Wright?"
"I recruited them. The FBI wanted people with access to day-to-day operations. People who could provide real-time intelligence. I found vulnerable employees—people who needed money, people with problems—and I facilitated contact with the FBI handlers."
"Who was your handler?"
"Agent David Reeves. He's young. Ambitious. Obsessed with taking down the Vitales. He sees you as his career case. His ticket to advancement."
I sat back. Processed everything Jake had said.
Months of betrayal. Months of feeding our enemies information. Months of compromising our security.
All because the FBI threatened his wife.
Standard procedure was clear. Betrayal meant death. No exceptions. No mercy. Make an example so others wouldn't even consider it.
I should kill him. Should have Matteo do it quickly. Dispose of the body. Send a message that betrayal has consequences.
But I found myself thinking about Julian. About mercy and second chances. About coercion versus choice.
Jake hadn't betrayed us for money or ambition. He'd been threatened. Forced to choose between protecting his wife and protecting us. That wasn't the same as voluntary betrayal.
"Do you love your wife?" I asked.
Jake looked up. Surprised by the question. "More than anything. She's everything to me. I'd do anything to protect her."
"Including betray people who trusted you."
"Yes. I'm sorry. I know that's not enough. I know what I did is unforgivable. But I couldn't let them hurt her. I couldn't—" His voice broke. "Please. Whatever you're going to do to me—fine. I deserve it. But please don't hurt my wife. She didn't know. She doesn't know anything about any of this. Please."
I stood up. Walked around the chair. Looked down at him.
Thought about Julian. About the choice I was making. About what kind of person I wanted to be.
About mercy.
"I should kill you," I said quietly. "That's standard procedure. You betrayed us. Compromised our security. Put everyone at risk. Death is the penalty for that."
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry—"
"But I'm not going to kill you." I moved back around to face him. "I'm going to give you a choice. The same kind of choice you gave us when you decided protecting your wife was worth betraying us."
Jake stared at me. Confused. Hopeful. Terrified.
"You're fired. Effective immediately. You and your wife have forty-eight hours to leave New York. Leave the state entirely. Go somewhere far away and start over."
"What—"
"I'm letting you go. Showing mercy. One time. Because you were coerced. Because you were protecting someone you love. Because I understand that desperation." I leaned down. Got close. Made sure he understood every word. "But if you ever come back to New York. If you ever contact the FBI again. If you ever speak a word about what happened here or what you know about our operations—there won't be mercy next time. I'll find you. I'll kill you. And I'll make sure your wife knows exactly why. Understood?"
"Yes. Yes. Thank you. God, thank you—"
"Don't thank me. Just disappear. Go live your life somewhere else. Protect your wife by staying away from us. That's your second chance. Don't waste it."
I cut the zip ties. Jake rubbed his wrists. Looked at me with shock and gratitude and lingering fear.
"Why?" he asked. "Why are you letting me go?"
I thought about Julian. About how he'd changed me. Made me question things I'd always accepted as necessary. Made me want to be better. More human. Less machine.
