The light shining from behind the Senator’s head shadows his face in darkness.

He’s grinning, and he looks like an absolute maniac.

I can’t believe I never saw it before. He’s holding a gun, and it becomes clear to me, he never needed me to kill for him. He’s been doing that himself all along.

I feel cold and sick thinking about the people I’ve killed and the lives I’ve destroyed for him. How many were innocent?

I never even thought to ask. I just followed orders. My need for revenge blinded me to the truth. My rage was the only validation I needed.

He gestures at the doorway with the gun, and I walk past him slowly.

I’m clutching at the red silk wrap like it might save me. I hear him follow behind but not too close—he’s smart. He wants plenty of room to get off a shot, should I decide to attack.

My heart isn’t in it, honestly.

The hard decisions I had to make are now out of my hands.

I won’t see my boys again, my gorgeous boys.

I know I’m not getting out of here alive. I want to feel like it’s better this way, that I’m protecting them, but all I can feel is misery.

We walk into the huge, empty space, and I turn to face him as he closes the door.

“The game’s up, Sofia. I didn’t want to believe it. My best, most loyal agent. Don’t you know I have eyes everywhere? Trust is a fragile thing. When you didn’t report, I had other investigators follow you.”

He comes closer, walking around behind me.

I try and turn my head, when he hits me in the temple with the gun. I crash to my knees, and he hits me again.

I’m only out for a few seconds.

I wake up to the feeling of cold concrete under me. He has tied my hands and is now binding tape around my feet. He looks up at me, eyes murderous in the half-light.

He binds my ankles and places his hands on my legs.

“Did you think I wouldn’t see you? Wining and dining with the brothers. Wearing pretty clothes. Playing with race cars. Planning parties. Living the high life while I sit around waiting for your call. Who the fuck do you think you are?”

I glare at him. I can’t answer, not really. I’m not sure anymore.

I was a killer, his weapon. No job too tough.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve felt like a woman—a real one—for the first time.

I felt like I might be worthy of comfort and security.

Love.

He grips my legs, and I look up at him again.

He has a hungry leer on his face, and his eyes are crazed.

“You fell in love, didn’t you? I warned you about that, remember? You said you couldn’t fall in love. Well tell me, Sofia—what do those brothers have that I don’t have, huh?”

“Integrity,” I answer immediately.

He grabs the gun and raises it, but I stare him down.

He stands up and points it at me. I don’t care.

“Shoot me, then. Just do it. Why the fuck are you doing all this? Why not just kill me and get it over with?”

“Because I have to know, sweet Sofia. I have to get the intel. Not just on the boys, but on you. I want you to spill on your precious boys, then I want you to come back to me. What can I offer you, Sofia? You’re my best agent. You need to see your boys for what they truly are, then you’ll come back to me, I know it.”

“What happened to Sammy?”

I’m defiant. I’m not telling him anything.

He laughs. “Sammy is just a rogue agent who stuck her nose where it doesn’t belong. She’ll be taken care of directly. She can’t run forever. Now…”

He leans down and puts the barrel of the gun against my temple.

“Tell me everything about the brothers. What’s this big change coming to the business? How are my stocks going to survive if my crime rings collapse? Don’t you know I need the brothers propping up the drug addicts and the prostitution rings? Don’t you know they practically all work for me?”

I’m so shocked I can’t speak. My head is throbbing, and I’m so cold.

I don’t care what he does to me anymore. I just want the pain to stop.

He shakes the gun.

“Speak up, Sofia. You can’t sell out on me like this! Was the cock that good, huh? Was it? I mean fuck—if all I had to do to keep you was buy a few pretty dresses, I could’ve done that. You never gave me the fucking chance!”

He stands up and paces away a few steps.

I don’t even watch—I just keep my eyes on the floor.

“This should be clear to you by now.”

He doesn’t bother to turn around, even though he speaks softly.

“Come back to me—or die. You need to decide. Me or them. If you choose them, you’re not walking out of here.”

I stick my chin out, and my body trembles as I attempt to get up and lunge at him, but all I can do is wriggle against the tape.

“I’d rather die!” I scream at him. “I’d rather die than keep working for you.”

He sighs and sticks the gun into his pants. Then, he reaches down and picks something up from the shadows and turns around.

I gasp and struggle against the tape again.

“Then you shall die, dear Sofia. Not quickly or easily—but screaming in fear as you see your fate coming to you.”

He steps forward and I see it clearly.

Stacks of C-4, taped together and bound to a detonator.

It’s a strap-on bomb.