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There would never be a time when I would be free to be loved.
Not that I knew what that meant exactly.
Amani nodded and held my eyes.
“Word is Maddon has put out a bounty on you.”
That warmth in my chest turned frosty.
“You and your father,” he went on.
I wished I could say I was surprised but I wasn’t. However, I didn’t anticipate Maddon going to the extreme of a bounty this soon. This wasn’t good. This meant he’d cottoned on to my plan earlier than I’d thought. He’d need time to plan, time to get the right people in place, time to whisper in the right people’s ears I had defected. It wouldn’t do for him to put a hit out on the Mediator without reason. I was well liked and trusted. I had been for years. A bounty out of the blue would draw suspicion. And Charlie, his best friend? That widely known relationship would be even more dubious.
“Thank you for that information.”
Amani dipped his chin.
“Do you have anything else for me?” he asked.
“He’ll hit you from the inside. He doesn’t like to get his hands dirty. He knows you’re untouchable so he’ll find your weak link and set the trap to find himself a rat. My advice is to close ranks to only your most trusted men.” I paused and drew in a breath knowing this last piece of information was going to anger a man I had no interest in angering. “The sparrow prototype has a tracking device embedded in the software. Tracking and listening.”
A ruddy color tinged Amani’s face.
Yup.
Angry.
“CIA?”
“No. Maddon.”
Amani nodded. “Out of respect you have one week to handle this situation. After that, I will step in and take care of our problem.”
I knew there was no use in arguing.
“That’s—”
“That’s appreciated,” I cut Easton off. “I’ll be in touch. Until then, stay safe.”
Amani stood.
I followed suit and extended my hand. Amani’s eyes dropped to my offering and he frowned. I knew why, I’d never shaken the man’s hand before. I never touched him in any way. The truth was, I didn’t offer any external signs of respect when I was mediating a situation.
I was neutral.
Switzerland.
Amani finally accepted my hand and squeezed.
“Please be careful, Dove. There are some who would be all too happy to have you taken out. Without you in play, Dutch and his team would have to rebuild. The chaos that would ensue could mean the end of Black.”
Good Goddamn it.
I needed Amani to stop talking. He was dangerously close to saying too much.
Not that he knew Zane was behind the Black Team. The face of the team was Dutch, always had been. But Easton and Smith would have questions.
Ones I was never going to answer.
