Page 20 of Silent Target

“After people were already killed.”

“That wasn’t your fault.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Neither do you.”

Her eyes meet mine.

For one second, I see beneath the controlled analyst, beneath the courage and anger.

Evie cares.

That’s why this betrayal hurts her.

It’s also why Graves will never control her.

“They aren’t going to win,” I say.

“You can’t promise that.”

“No.”

“Then why say it?”

“Because I’m going to make certain they don’t.”

Her hands begin trembling as the adrenaline leaves her body.

She hides them beneath the table.

I pretend not to notice.

Instead, I find a bottle of water and a first-aid kit.

I set both in front of her.

“You always notice everything, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“That must be annoying for people.”

“It is.”

A quiet laugh escapes her.

The sound does something strange to my chest.

I’ve spent most of my life keeping distance between myself and other people.

Distance gives me a clear line of sight.

Distance keeps people safe.

Distance means I don’t have to remember what it feels like when someone trusts me and I fail to bring them home.

But Evie is sitting in this house because she trusted Shadow Division.