Page 7 of The Unravelings

“Are you a dedicated agent of Veritas?” His question feels like a physical blow, knocking me back another step. I nod without hesitation. “That’s what I thought, Agent Seven.” He reaches into his pocket and throws something at my feet. The loud clank reverberates through the warehouse, striking like lightning and making me flinch. “You need to act like the agent we prepared you to be. So, JJ knows your identity. How are you going to play that to your advantage?” He quirks a brow again, and all the anger on his face from two seconds ago drains completely. His mask slips back into place, concealing everything from before. “You’re a good agent, Olivia. This is something you’ll have to figure out.”

Cool. Calm. Collected.

Fear slithers through my veins at his outburst. The remnants of the Viotto family still sit with him, despite him being away for so long and being outcast by his brothers. I’ve seen the ugly side of so many of my uncles. Their monsters come out to play while they lash out in angry fits of rage. Especially with my own father. The way he handled me when his anger got to be too much. The punches, punishments, and hateful words.

Seeing Jonathan standing before me with his chest heaving one second and his mask back in place the next has flashbacks bouncing around inside my skull. My lips pop open several times to defend myself or say something, but my instincts have me biting my tongue. My father slipped from monster to calm in seconds, then back again. The moment I open my mouth, Jonathan might pounce on me.

I’ll make it worse.

I swallow hard. Ignoring the ringing in my ears and the beat of my frantic heart. My mind whispers to me to run away from him. Run from the danger staring back at me with wide eyes and no emotions.

“I told you this would be your most difficult case yet. This was bound to happen,” he repeats himself, placing his hands on his hips with a heavy sigh. “I know it’s taking its toll on you, Liv.”

Bound to happen? What did he expect to come of this? Of course it’s taking its toll on me. I’m a shell of myself right now. I want to tilt my head back and scream at the top of my lungs. Beg for freedom. Beg for these shackles holding me in Greenwood to fall off and set me free.

I’m stuck.

He knows I can’t refuse his orders. He knows I’ll jump back into my dorm and pretend this never happened.

Only, it did happen. JJ knows who I am. Soon, the others will too. He had no incentive to hold his tongue. Not for me.

And it fucking terrifies me worse than anything before. Even after they slit my throat and poured gasoline in my home.

I didn’t see my death coming then. People I trusted most blindsided me. But right now? My death is on the horizon, and I know who will do it. My enemies. My ex-boyfriends. The only question is how they’ll do it. Fire? Stabbing? Shoot me in my sleep? The list is endless with them.

I can only hope I make it out alive, instead of dying as a pawn for Veritas, Jonathan, and his boss above him.

“If he knows who I am, then he might tell the others,” I bravely say again, reaching down to grab the object he threw at me.

The cool metal of my shiny badge, displaying “Agent Seven” and “Veritas” beneath it, stares back at me as I run my thumb over the words.

My badge. My proof I work for the government’s best-kept secret.

“So, he tells the others, Olivia,” he says in a softer voice, tapping the side of his head several times. “How are you going to get into their good graces? Have you forgotten the mission completely?”

“No.” I raise my chin despite the quiver working through me. “I haven’t forgotten the mission.”

How could I? It’s been in the back of my mind since the moment I set foot on Greenwood University dirt.

Infiltrate their frat. Find out what Franco is up to. Face what I shouldn’t have to face.

Even now.

“Then use those boys the way they used you,” Jonathan demands. “Use their emotions to get inside their gang. You have insider scoop now. It’ll be easy to initiate with JJ at your side. Make him help you.”

He talks like they weren’t the ones who killed me. Or betrayed me. He acts like they won’t retaliate against me if I go back and they know who I am.

“Why would they want me to do that?” My grip tightens around my badge, reminding me of who I am and what I’ve become. A stronger woman. A woman who won’t take anyone’s shit. Including Jonathan’s. “Why would they want anything to do with me? They wanted me gone and got their wish the first time.”

“So don’t grant their wish the second time and make it hard for them.” His voice sharpens with every word, echoing through the space as it grows louder. “You’re a badass agent, Olivia. I’ve trained you for years to bring you to this moment. You want Franco to go down in flames, don’t you? For everything he put you through?”

“Th-they killed me,” I gasp out, grasping at straws as to why I can’t return.

Why is he making me?

Jonathan immediately steps forward and pulls me into his arms. His chin rests on the top of my head as his soft heartbeat thumps in my ear. I stiffen at his affection. He’s never one to show his emotions or voluntarily give hugs. He tightens his arms around me until I’m slumping in his grasp.

“I know this is hard for you, Olivia. I’m sorry I have to push so hard.” He stops for a second, sucking in a deep breath. “They’re really pushing for this case from the top. I asked my boss to replace you. I asked them to send someone else in your place to begin with, but they weren’t having it. I fought so hard for you, Liv.” I swallow the lump in my throat at the emotions pouring from his voice. “I’ll never forget what those boys did to you. I know what happened to you that night I rescued you.” Pulling back from our awkward embrace, he holds me at arm’s length and forces my gaze to his. “You need to let them know it won’t be as easy to get rid of you this time. That you’re here to stay.” He quirks a brow again, a smirk pulling at his lips.