Page 210 of Chameleon Killer

“I did.” Because I’d thrown her a line and she’d refused to catch it.

“When?”

“The morning after.”

She frowned.

“At the board, Mal. You told me I crossed a line.”

Realization softened her expression. “I didn't mean⁠—”

“I know what you meant now.”

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

“Then explain it to me.”

I laughed once without humor. “You really don't know how to leave anything alone.”

“No.”

“At least you're consistent.”

She waited. I hated when she did that. Mostly because it worked.

“I was angry with Brewster.”

Her expression remained neutral. “Professionally?”

“Oh yeah.”

A beat.

“And?”

I stared at her. She had the decency not to smile.

“Mal.”

“And?”

I rubbed a hand across the back of my neck. “Because he stayed assigned to you after sleeping with you.”

Her gaze didn't move.

“Because he controlled what information reached you.”

Still nothing.

“Because every time you pushed back, he treated it like proof you needed more controlling.”

She listened.

“And,” she prompted again.

I almost told her to go to hell. The words were right there on the tip of my tongue. But I didn’t want to say them and she didn’t need to hear it. Not when she was being deliberately vulnerable.