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Aid that we were delighted to give her—but now that the Ruby Realm has been shut down, and surveillance will be ramped up on me, we need to rethink our original plans.
Aside from Natalie Miller, Elena's fate was the only thing on my mind during my time in that cell.
Daddy says gravely, "Thought we could hide her upstate until we could arrange a new identity and relocation for her. The usual plan's shot to hell now." He takes in my expression. "No, don't blame yourself,principessa. You didn't know."
"I should have known," I hiss.
Daddy sighs. "The girl is safe for now. She can wait a night. And our strategies can wait for tomorrow, eh?"
He's right, though I hate to admit it. Weariness tugs at me now that the initial outrage has cooled. I need privacy, time to order my thoughts and plan my next steps.
"In the meantime, Alessa, tell me what I can do to make you feel better. Anything at all."
My whole life, he's been like this. He'd move mountains to keep me safe and happy. And there's one thing I know Idowant.
Vengeance.
I meet my father's dark eyes steadily. "Natalie Miller," I say. "I want you to bring her to me, Daddy. Somewhere private. Somewhere where she can scream her lungs out and not be heard."
"Alessa," Daddy says gently. "If you want this Natalie Miller taken care of, I can—"
"No," I say, almost violently. "No.Iwill be the one to do this. Please, Daddy, just—just bring her to me."
He stands to press a kiss to my forehead. "Consider it done,principessa."
CHAPTER3
NATALIE
I walk back into FBI headquarters with a file of papers clutched to my chest like a shield. It hasn't been that long since I was last here—a week, ten days, maybe—yet it feels like a lifetime. And I don't feel the same sense of peace and rightness that I usually feel when I come into work.
But I came here for one reason only: to return these documents I inadvertently took from the Park Avenue penthouse when I left my alias Natalie Moreau behind. It's time to cut the ties still linking me to that glamorous undercover life. Time to remember who the hell I am. And then, soon enough, these headquarters will feel like home again.
I make my way to my team's bullpen on a higher floor, getting a few nods along the way. Smiles seem genuine, if a bit cautious. Heat creeps up my neck despite myself. Why do I feel so…out of place? I keep my gaze fixed straight ahead, trying not to catch any eyes as I make my way to my team's section. I'm here to do one thing, and then I can retreat back to the safety of my nondescript apartment. Alone.
"Hey, Miller, welcome back."
I turn to see Patrick O'Conner falling into step beside me, his boyish face creased into a friendly grin. "We've missed you around here. How are you holding up?"
I appreciate his kindness, but his question rubs my raw nerves. I resist the urge to wrap my arms around myself defensively. "I'm doing alright, thanks. Still on leave."
He nods, taking my hint not to pry further. "That case was some heavy stuff. You did good work bringing it home. Really impressive. When you're ready, I know Bell will want you back on high-priority cases."
There's an eagerness to his tone that both warms me and sets me on edge. I don't want to be seen as some hero, the brave agent who took down Alessa de Luca.
That's not…that's not how it happened.
So I simply incline my head in acknowledgment and offer a noncommittal, "We'll see what happens."
We've reached the corridor leading to my small office space. O'Conner gives me an encouraging slap on the shoulder. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you made it through in one piece. Just watch your back, huh?"
I take a sharp breath. Does he know of the danger I face with Alessa at large? Before I can ask, O'Conner disappears into the bustling bullpen.
I step into the dim, cramped space that serves as my office. It looks exactly like I left it weeks ago, but it feels so unfamiliar now.
Dropping the files on my desk, I sink into the worn office chair that molds perfectly to my shape. As I glance at the mundane personnel notices and mentoring program posters my colleagues have tacked up in their spaces visible through the glass wall, I feel like an imposter. The Natalie Miller I once was doesn't seem to fit in this world anymore.
I left too much of myself somewhere else. Somewhere…somewhere dark and dangerous and deadly.
