Page 17 of The FBI Agents Who Stole Me

I look up at him. “You don’t get to tell me what I need.”

He steps inside anyway and crouches in front of me, lowering himself to my eye level. “You’re angry,” he says. “And you’re not thinking clearly yet.”

I scoff. “Because you drugged me.”

“Yes.”

I lean forward, closing the distance between us. “Like I said, dick move. Not very Hippocratic Oath-y of you.”

His eyes sparkle at me, but his tone is serious. “I know.”

“Then we understand each other. You won’t ever do that again,” I say. I need the upper hand here. I’m so obviously out of my depth in all of this.

Silence settles around us.

“Oh my God, you aren’t even sorry,” I shout and throw my hands up.

“I’m sorry that I’m not sorry.”

What. A. Dick.

Outside, a bird calls. Somewhere deeper in the woods, something moves. There are probably bears and wolves out there. This is the exact place a woman like me dies in a horror film. The FBI isn’t the only thing I’m suddenly afraid of barging in here.

“What did Elliot tell you?”

Julian hesitates. “He said they have something concrete on you.” He swallows and continues. “They have been watching you. And they were able to get a warrant for your arrest.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Did he say what the warrant is for?”

“Not specifically.”

“Did he say anything about Emily? About Project Vine?”

Julian’s gaze flicks away for the first time. “Ettie, I need to tell you something about what Elliot and I did.”

He exhales, and I can tell whatever he’s going to say is going to make me livid.

“Elliot came to me because he needed help. He said I could help throw them off your trail.”

My teeth grind together. Everyone was making moves around me, talking about me, and I had no fucking clue. Some investigator I am. God, I’m an idiot.

“Sweet. You and Elliot teamed up against me. And what is the latest from the traitor?”

“He said he knows who is responsible.”

My nails bite into my palms. I want to rage, to throw something at Julian’s head for keeping this from me. But this is the most information I’ve gotten lately, and it’s painfully clear they know more than I do right now. So, I shove the fury down.

“Director Fuller.” His eyes darken when he says the name.

“Fuck. I knew, sort of. I wasn’t sure. You can’t keep me here, Julian. I’m so close.” I stand. My legs are steadier now. Anger holds me together, apparently.

He studies me. I love the way he looks at me, even when I want to strangle him.

“I can't let you leave yet. Not until Elliot gives us the all clear.”

My fists clench at my sides. “Julian. This is insane. You can’t keep me hostage.”

He doesn’t move.