Page 47 of The FBI Agents Who Stole Me

Every syllable tastes like betrayal.

She stares at me like I just grew a second head. The hurt that flashes across her face is so raw I nearly break right there on her couch.

“Attached,” I add, twisting the knife so she won’t come after me. “You’ve been clingy. And I don’t want to lead you on.”

Lee’s mouth opens then closes. Her hands ball into fists in her lap.

“Clingy,” she echoes, voice flat and dangerous. “Did you just come over tonight to tell me you want to fuck other people? Or are you already fucking other people?”

I shrug like the asshole she now thinks I am. “I thought we were on the same page. Casual. No strings. But you’ve been… different lately. And I’ve got my own shit going on.”

She stands up so fast Jasper startles before curling back into his bed.

Her eyes lock on me. “Don’t you dare act like this was just casual,” she says, voice cracking.

I stand, too, because I have to look like I mean every word. If I stay seated, I'll drop to my knees, confess everything, and beg her to forgive me before she even knows what I've done.

“I’m sorry,” I say, and it’s the only true thing that’s left my mouth tonight. “But this is better for both of us. Let’s just… end it clean.”

“Right. Because you’re such a fucking gentleman.”

I walk to the door and reach for the door handle before I lose my nerve completely.

“Take care of yourself, kid.”

The nickname slips out before I can stop it. Her flinch is small, but I see it.

“Don’t call me that,” she says, angry and hurt.

I don’t look back. I can’t. My chest caves inward with every step.

The door clicks shut behind me, and I stand in the hallway for a long second, my forehead pressed to the wood, listening to the silence on the other side.

Then something crashes inside her apartment.

I just destroyed the best thing that's ever happened to me.

But she’s alive. As long as she hates me, she won't get close enough to Fuller to get herself killed.

This was the only way. Even if it feels like I just put a bullet in my own heart.

I can’t dwell on that now. I need to set things in motion because it’s all about to implode. I lit the fuse after all.

A coyote howls, and I pull out the rifle strapped to the side of my backpack and pick up the pace to a light jog. I haven’t had much cardio today. I'll make sure to run back too.

The dark shape of the house comes into view. It’s like the opening shot of a horror movie, and I’m praying it doesn’t end up covered in blood like some bad 90’s movie.

It won’t. I spent the last month fixing things. Putting it all in place. I even broke my own fucking heart. And I would do it all again. I just need this to work, and it will be worth it.

My phone buzzes. I type in the code on the front door and walk in, not bothering to hit the lights.

Paranoid is my entire personality right now.

Unknown: Where are you, agent?

Elliot: We both know you’re able to see my location. I’m working.

I set my backpack on the floor and pull up the tracker app. The signal still shows me exactly where Fuller expects me to be, at Lee’s apartment.