ONE WEEK LATER

I quietly make my way into Senator Archard’s office, hoping for a miracle. He’s gone for the day, and the pesky Jake Cannon finally got the hint that I won’t leave work anytime soon. He’s left the office early. It’s odd working with the elusive, handsome man I slept with, but compartmentalizing my work and my love life is necessary. I can’t get distracted from my goal.

There has to be something on Archard. Norah had mentioned something about a file. Perhaps that was long gone, along with her, but there had to be a trail. I’d been trying to figure out the password to his computer for months. Luckily, flirting with the guy from the IT department paid off, and he gave me something I could use. I hover over Archard’s keyboard and glance at the instructions laid out. I follow the protocol and within minutes I’ve unlocked the screen.

Triumph rises within me as I reach into the handbag sitting beside me on the desk. My heartbeat speeds up as I dig for the flash drive. I snap it into the desktop and begin to copy and paste files upon files of my boss’s records.

“That’s not a good idea, love.”

I’m startled and jolt back as my heart pounds against my rib cage. “Jake.” My voice falters as he approaches. I tell myself to stay calm, act blasé, and give away nothing as I stand tall with my shoulders back. “What are you doing back in the office? I thought you left for the day.”

He approaches and stands beside me, never once glancing at the computer screen. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Liv?” His voice is a harsh whisper. “This is extremely risky. And you won’t find anything on there about Norah.”

I tamp down my irritation. “I’ve got to try, Jake. There might be something, anything to implicate him. A clue…”

He shakes his head, his eyes pitying me. “No, sweetheart.”

Awareness blazes through me and I step away with caution. “I never told you her name…” His body tenses as he tries to close the space between us. “Stay back! Stay away from me.” I glance at my purse. I have mace in it but I can’t reach it. My only option is to bolt for the door, but I’m in heels, and he’ll catch me before I can get far.

“Liv.” He’s blocked my way and I won’t get past him if I try.

“Don’t call me that!” We’re circling the desk like a game of cat and mouse. I want to beeline toward the door. My eyes dart between the exit and him.

“Don’t try,” his deep voice rumbles. “I’ll only catch you.”

I sprint fleetingly, but it’s no use. He’s wrapped around me immediately, my arms pinned to my sides, my back against his chest. I try flailing, wriggling, thinking of a way to get free. “Stop it,” he growls, holding me down. I jerk my head back and make contact with his chin. He groans but only tightens his grip. “Olivia, that’s enough! Stay still.”

My breathing hitches in my chest as I breathlessly speak. “Are you gonna kill me?”

A rough laugh escapes his mouth. “What?”

“Are you one of his lackeys?” I struggle in his arms, hoping he’s not allies with my boss. “You killed Norah, didn’t you? Have you been following me?”

“I didn’t kill Norah, woman. Calm yourself. I’m not going to hurt you.” He loosens his grip and rests his mouth on my temple, giving me a sweet kiss.

I push forward, rush to the end table, and pick up a large glass vase with flowers. I hold it up high, ready to hurl it at him if need be. “Explain yourself, Cannon! How do you know her name? What do you know about Branton Archard?”

He steadies his breath and rests his hands on his hips. “I’m investigating Archard.” I lower the vase, in shock, but keep it in my hands.

“What?”

“I’ve been looking into him for a while.” I scrutinize him, doubt his confession. He sighs, looks at the door, as if nervous someone’s about to walk in. “We need to talk, and it’s not safe here.”

I’m planted on the spot. “I have questions.”

“I know you do.” He stares at me, the silence unsettling. “Let’s go, Liv.”

“How can I trust you?” I lift the vase again with intent to throw. “How do I know you’re telling the truth? You could kill me the moment I turn my back.”

His face twists as he rubs over his jaw with his hand. “I’ve been shadowing you for over half a year and I haven’t hurt you yet.” I gasp, my blood curdling as he leans forward and yanks the vase out of my hands and sets it back in place. “Get your shit, Olivia. I’m taking you home.”

We don’t say a word to each other as his driver takes us to my tiny apartment. I sit on my ratty couch as he shifts around the kitchen. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you know where I live?”

He slightly grins as he sets the kettle on the gas stove and walks toward me. He sits on the arm of my sofa and gazes down on me. “Ask me what you want.”

I give him an inscrutable glare. “Are you even a real data policy analyst?”

“I’m with the FBI.”

Hurt flares through my body. My heart sinks. “Is your name even Jake Cannon?”

The confidence in him leaves. His eyes are downcast as he shakes his head. “No.”

“What is it?”

He hesitates telling me, as if at war with himself. “It’s Hunter Reed.”

I try not to let his lie affect me and choke back tears. “Why were you following me?”

The kettle whistles and he gets up to make the tea. He returns with two cups and hands me one. “At first I thought you were with Branton—that you were his mistress. I was solely looking for any lead I could possibly find. My partner and I’ve been investigating him for over a year.”

I don’t notice the tears trailing down my cheeks until he reaches forward to wipe one away with the pad of his thumb. I jerk my face away. “Where were you when Norah needed you? He killed her and you didn’t see that?”

He chokes on his words as he continues, “I knew he was bad, Liv, but I had no idea he was capable of having women murdered. We weren’t paying attention to his lovers. We kept to the business aspect.”

I try to breathe through the pain in my heart, and take a sip of the English breakfast tea, but it doesn’t comfort me. “I knew you were hiding something, but why start working with Archard now?”

He shrugs and puts his cup on the table. I follow suit. His jaw tightens, and he’s locked his fingers together. “Because I fell for you.”

My heart tightens. Anger lances through me. “When exactly did that happen? When you were stalking me? When you approached me in Central Park? Or when you fucked me?”

“I wasn’t stalking you, Liv. I kept my distance and didn’t look into you until recently.”

“Well, isn’t that reassuring.” I rise from the couch and pace the tiny space behind it. “How am I supposed to believe anything you say?”

“I thought you were with him.” He approaches me and I back away, unsure of trusting him or myself around him. “I thought you were his. I trailed you because you were a person of interest. But you were there at the park and crying and I just…I had to know more.”

“So you used me to gain information.”

“I wanted to comfort you.” He’s compressing his irritation, trying to get his point across. “You didn’t see what I saw. You were crying, hurting, but when you opened up to me…that was everything. Olivia, I’m doing this for you. I’m protecting you. That’s my new purpose in all of this. And now, more than ever, I want to get this bastard. I want to nail him, and I want you safe. That’s why I got the job. It took me months to set everything up to work for him. I’m risking it all for you.”

I chew my lip and stop him before he can get close. “I can’t trust you for anything other than working this case. I’ll help and give you whatever I can. But don’t even think I’d give you another shot.”

His sad eyes focus on mine. “I’ll earn your trust somehow, Liv.”

I ignore his confident statement. “What do you need from me to get this asshole?”

“Well, as I said, you’re not going to find information in that work computer. Is there any other reason he’d have Norah killed?” He runs his hand over his scruff, and exhaustion is evident under the circles that darken his wary eyes. “Can you recall anything at all, Liv? You were her roommate. She must’ve said something, given you something. Anything.”

My eyes close briefly. “She mentioned a file, but I’ve racked my brain trying to locate something, Jake— Hunter…sorry. I don’t know what to call you.”

“Stick with Jake in public.”

We’re both quiet. I’m in my head processing everything that’s happened around me. He’s staring at me. My heart speeds and I’m entranced at the light he brings in the dimness of the room as he closes the distance between us. His fingertips skim over my jawline before cradling my face, and his mouth descends. Our meeting of lips is tender, but I try to pull away and he holds me, his mouth challenging me for more. I sigh as my hands make their way to his hair, tugging him closer, the world around us fading. I quickly come to and pull away. “I can’t…”

“I know.” His voice is rough. “I will make this right though.”

“I’m not sure you can.”