The SUV door shut behind Lena with a heavy finality. Inside, the air was cool and smelled faintly of leather. Across from her sat Agent Morales, calm eyes and clipped tone, every inch the man who had ruined countless reputations without raising his voice.
"This is voluntary," he said again. "But I advise you not to waste our time."
Her pulse hammered. "You dragged me off the street."
"We requested your cooperation," Morales corrected smoothly. "There's a difference. And since your name is on every newsfeed tonight, you should be eager to clear the record."
He slid a folder across the seat. Her hands shook as she opened it. Screenshots. Financial spreadsheets. Contracts. Her name circled in red. Her signature bold against black and white print.
"This proves nothing," she said, louder than she meant to.
"It proves enough to ruin you," Morales countered.
The SUV glided through the city, neon lights flashing across the windows. Lena felt like she was being carried toward a cliff. Her phone buzzed in her coat pocket a single new message from the unknown number.
Don't say a word. Trust no one. Not even him.
Lena's throat tightened. Him?
Morales leaned forward. "Tell me, Miss Voss. Did Nathaniel Cross coerce you into signing this deal?"
The words hit harder than the flashing cameras ever could, Coerce. If she answered wrong, she'd sink Nathaniel and herself.
She stared out at the skyline, the weight of the city pressing in. Outside, cameras were waiting. Inside, the government was circling. And somewhere above it all, Nathaniel was watching, waiting for her to play her move.
Lena closed the folder slowly, forcing her trembling hands still.
"If you think I'm anyone's pawn," she said, voice low, "you don't know me at all."
The SUV braked suddenly, jerking her forward. Morales frowned and spoke into his radio.
"Problem?"
Static crackled, then a sharp voice cut through: "Unit Two compromised. Leak confirmed press is live on our location. Repeat, live on our location."
Through the tinted glass, flashes burst like lightning. Reporters swarmed. Someone had tipped them off.
Morales cursed. "Get her out."
The door opened, cameras roared, and Lena realized the city wasn't just watching anymore it was devouring her.
And somewhere in the chaos, she saw a face in the crowd she didn't expect. Adrian Kane, smiling, like he'd planned the entire thing.