I SPRINTED through the overgrown garden, ducking low branches and crashing through bushes. If Konstantin saw her, if she told him I was an imposter…. “What happened?” I yelled.

Calahan sounded as breathless with panic as I was. “We had her at a safe house. Two guards. She seduced one of them, stole his car. We’re tracking its GPS. She’s only a few streets away from you.”

“Stop her!”

“We’re in pursuit, but we’re not going to get there in time!”

I reached the back door of the mansion... and realized I didn’t have a plan. I knew I had to intercept her before she talked to Konstantin but what the hell was I going to do with her?

“Hailey, she’s there! She’s outside the mansion!” yelled Calahan.

I cut through the staff area, dodging maids and cleaning staff as I raced to the front of the mansion. I stumbled to a stop by the front door and wrenched it open—

The guard outside turned and looked at me in surprise. I scanned the driveway: no sign of Christina.

The guard was still frowning at me. I looked up at him. “What?” I asked.

He shook his head in wonder. “How did you get changed so fast?”

My eyes widened. I missed her! I turned and bolted up the stairs. Burst into our bedroom. A dark-haired woman spun around and—

The room seemed to rock and tilt under my feet. That sickening shift in reality, again. I was looking at myself.

Christina’s eyes narrowed. “You!” She was panting: she must have raced up here just like I had.

I put my hands up defensively. I had no idea what to say or what to do. Why the hell has she come here? If she exposed me to Konstantin, the FBI would have to rush in to try to save me. Maybe he’d kill me before they got there, maybe he wouldn’t, but either way they’d recapture Christina and she was facing serious prison time for the drugs they’d found in her car in Italy. By coming here she’d pretty much guaranteed she’d be caught. Why hadn’t she just driven to Mexico and disappeared? With any other woman, I’d have thought it was for Konstantin, to get her man back. But I knew she didn’t love him. So why?

A creak from the stairs. My heart jumped up into my throat and Christina gave me a cat-like grin. “I could fucking kill you,” she told me savagely. “But I’d rather watch him do it.”

I wasn’t ready for the raw emotion in her voice. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe she does love him?

And then, before I could say anything, Konstantin’s voice came from the landing. “Christina?”

My eyes went wide as I saw Christina’s mouth open. No no no—

“In here!” yelled Christina. “Come in, I’ve got something to show you!”

I heard Konstantin’s heavy footsteps coming down the hall. It was all over. He’d see the two of us and kill me. Unless—

“We’ll cut a deal with you,” I whispered frantically.

Christina frowned. “What?”

“Walk away,” I told her. “Walk away right now and don’t tell him and—and—we’ll drop all charges against you. You’ll be free!”

Carrie exploded on my earpiece. “What the hell are you doing?! You don’t have the authority to make that kind of a deal!”

“It’s the only chance we have!” I snapped.

Carrie muttered and cursed. Then, “Okay!”

I looked at Christina. “The FBI agrees.” I glanced at the door. I could hear Konstantin right outside. “Just walk away,” I hissed. “We won’t come after you. Please. Please!”

She glared at me suspiciously, unsure if it was a trap. Then she seemed to see something in my expression and she frowned in amazement.

I flushed. What does that mean? What did she see?

The doorknob twisted. It was too late for Christina to hide: she was right out in the middle of the room. But I was next to the closet. I darted inside and pulled the door shut.

And prayed that she’d take the deal.