Page 284 of Vicious Temptation

“Remi Cain lives within minutes of several immediate family members and maintains frequent contact with them. Are you asking us to believe that after Agent Duvall disclosed classified intelligence to her, she told no one?”

My stomach twists.

I never gave them her name.

They knew exactly who Elena had compromised before I ever walked through the door.

“I’m telling you I have no evidence that she shared anything.”

“Do you believe she did?”

I don’t answer quickly enough, and the woman makes another note on the tablet.

“Are these family members capable of acting on that information?”

I feel the trap closing around me.

“That’s irrelevant. Remi isn’t a threat to Helios, nor is her family.”

The man at the head of the table leans back in his chair. “You just confirmed that Agent Duvall exposed this organization to a civilian linked to a highly organized criminal enterprise, and you cannot assure us that the information did not go beyond her.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“It’s what you told us.”

My jaw tightens as the purpose behind every question becomes clear. I came here to put an end to Elena’s operation against Remi, but instead I gave them another reason to look at her.

He turns toward the woman seated next to him. “Begin containment procedures.”

My entire body tenses. “Sir?”

His attention returns to me. “The compromise extends beyond Agent Duvall.”

I shake my head. “No, with respect, that isn’t necessary.”

“Explain.”

“Remi isn’t a threat.”

A crease forms between his brow. “That’s an emotional assessment.”

“It’s an accurate one.”

“She possesses classified knowledge.”

“She won’t use it.”

“You cannot guarantee that.”

“I can!”

His attention drops to the bandages around my fingers before moving to the ones on my face. “Did she do that to you?”

I grit my teeth. “That has nothing to do with this.”

“I disagree.” He gestures toward me. “You walked into this office with multiple injuries, yet you’ve made no attempt to explain them. Now you’re asking me to accept your assessment that the civilian responsible poses no threat to this organization.”

“She was angry with me, and she had every fucking right to be.”