Beneath Her Charm

mind was a storm of questions, but he bit down on his frustration, knowing he had to tread carefully. These men

ung over his shoulder, his eyes flicking between Dare and Ethan. "If we're going to kee

this place unless it's absolutely necessary. These people... t

sk to be dragged into this, Ethan. One minute I'm meeting this woman, a

gave a subtle nod. "Fine," Ethan said, leaning back

a whistleblower, someone who's seen things no one was supposed to see. For years, she worked for an organization called Blackthorn, a covert g

what does that have to do wit

threat. The moment you spoke to her, you became a loose end. They think she might've told you

picture they formed was far from comforting. He thought back to Elena's cry

f she came to you, it wasn't by accident. Elena doesn't make mistakes. S

surface. "I'm just a regular guy. I don't know anything about conspir

mes, it's not about what you know. It's about who you are. Elena mu

ng. "This is insane. I didn't ask for

g on his lips. "There's no going back, kid. No

ou can keep running, or you can fight back. But if you choose to fight, you need to be ready fo

living in constant fear, made his skin crawl. But the idea of fighting back-of

sudden knock at the door

to his rifle, his eyes narro

plied from the oth

evealing a petite woman with auburn hair tied in a messy bun. She ste

she asked, her

" Ethan sa

eyebrow. "A friend?

t her words but

She's one of the best operatives we have. If anyon

e still fixed on Dare. "You'r

slowly. "A

an. "We need to move. Staying here is too risky.

ed. "We jus

ackthorn doesn't leave loose ends, remember?

agreement. "She's right. We

ation. "I thought this was

fe," Ivy said bluntly. "Not

rner of the room. "She's right. We'll head t

t again, of constantly looking over his shoulder, w

aside, her voice low but urgent. "Are you

e, then back at Ivy.

dn't fully understand what was happening, but if he was going to

nto the darkness of the night. Dare's mind raced as they naviga

lly? And why had

e. If he wanted answers-if he wanted to survive-he would have