Page 18 of Vicious Temptation

“Yeah,” he says, not buying it. “We’ll go with that.”

Pushing off the locker, he grabs his bag. “A couple of us are heading out for drinks. Nothing crazy, just down the street.” He jerks his chin toward the door. “You should come. First round’s on me.”

I consider the offer for a second. On any other night, I might have taken him up on it, but I’ve already put off meeting with the commander longer than I should. She expected me days ago.

“Appreciate it,” I say, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “But I’ve still got some things to take care of at the new place. Rain check?”

Ryan gives me a long look before nodding. “Yeah, I get it. New city and all. But next time, offer stands.” He starts toward the door, then glances back. “Don’t be a stranger, Braga. We’re not just a team out here, man. We’re brothers.”

With one last nod, Ryan heads out, his voice fading as he calls to the rest of the guys. The room empties gradually until the conversations and slamming lockers fade enough for me to hear the faint buzz coming from inside my bag.

I pull out my phone.

There’s no name or number attached to the message, but there never is. This one contains a single instruction to report. Only this time, I won’t be reporting to some off-site Helios location. Elena’s office is a floor above me, hidden in plain sight within the same department where everyone knows her only as Commander Duvall.

I grab my bag and leave the locker room, taking the stairs instead of the elevator. When I reach her floor, most of the offices are dark, and the halls are nearly empty. Her door sits at the end of the hall, a small plaque bearing her name and title beside it.

After the way she introduced herself, I wouldn’t put it past her to have another test waiting for me on the other side.

I knock twice.

“Come in.”

Elena’s standing behind her desk with an open file in front of her when I enter. She doesn’t acknowledge me right away and continues reading as I close the door. After a few seconds, she turns another page, and I start to wonder if she enjoys making people wait.

“You’re late, Operative.”

“Had to establish a routine. You know how that goes.”

“You had seventy-two hours,” she says, finally looking at me.

“I used them.”

“And?”

“I made contact.”

“I take it that went well,” she says, her voice even, “considering you’re standing here, and as far as I know, Cain is still alive.”

I’m not sure what the hell she expected to happen.

“Of course she is.”

Elena studies me for a moment before rounding the desk and taking her seat.

“Of course. But⁠—”

“Listen,” I cut in. “If you want this intel, I need time. She’s not going to hand me a damn thing just because I ask. I need to gain her trust and get close enough that she stops questioning why I’m there. This isn’t a matter of days.”

Most of my jobs have been simple. Get in, acquire what I need, sanitize the rest, and move on.

This assignment requires me to stay.

I knew the Cain history before I ever set foot in Philadelphia. Meeting Remi only confirmed that none of it is exaggerated. She put a gun to my chest without so much as a tremor in her hand, and if she’s any indication of the people who raised her, rushing this would be fucking suicide.

“Weeks?” Elena asks.

“At least.”