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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Kaden

Time’s up

T he apartment the agency rented for me is quiet—too quiet—the kind of quiet that belongs to an empty life. I sit on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing, a half-packed duffel at my feet. The only sound is the steady hum of the fridge and the faint tick of the clock on the wall.

I should be gone by now.

Someone else will finish showing her how to use her classroom computers.

There’s no reason for me to see her again. She wouldn’t be able to track me down even if she tried. She might look for me. Maybe for weeks. Maybe not at all. But I’m good at what I do. There’ll be no proof I was ever here. Even the school’s security recordings have been wiped. I’m that good.

Someone like her won’t be alone long.

The thought of her with someone else sickens me. I stand and my fists clench so hard they hurt. I’ve used the last few days to hack into Ai-Den’s main memories and delete every incriminating comment he and Josie ever made to each other.

That’s more than I have ever done for anyone and it should be enough. I don’t need to hold her one last time. A good-bye fuck for the road? No, she deserves better than that.

I exhale sharply, dragging a hand through my hair. I need to just go. This is the best way. It’s clean. It’s the only way to make sure she stays alive.

Wavering will get us both killed.

The agency should have no reason to care about her again. No reason to send someone else. I came, I saw, I determined the target unnecessary. It wouldn’t be the first time. The agency is ruthless, but they don’t like to take action without cause.

I’ll leave. She can go on with her life.

Simple.

My eyes flick to my phone. I could send her a text just so she doesn’t worry. That thought is followed by a harsh laugh. What the fuck am I thinking? What would I even say?

I lied about everything, but I hope you’re okay?

Sorry, I killed your AI friend.

Pathetic.

I sink back onto the edge of the bed, bracing myself with my elbows on my knees as a wave of nausea rises and threatens to be the only mess I’ll leave in this place. Bad idea. Never leave DNA behind. I swallow my bile down.

Head pounding, I stand again. I need to go. Right now. Before I do something stupid.

And then my phone vibrates with an incoming message. The sound slices through the room, sharp and final.

Every muscle in me tightens. If it’s her I can’t answer. But I will read it.

I sway back onto my heels when I see who it’s from. Wade. “Time’s up. New plan. Give the apartment a full clean then come home.”

Even though our messages are encrypted, we still speak in code. “I don’t see the necessity. The place is spotless.”

“If it’s too dirty for you to handle alone, I can be there to help in a few hours.”

Holy fuck. “No. Don’t waste the gas. It’s a small mess, easy enough to clean on my own. Like I said, not even worth worrying about.”

“Not your call. Not mine, either. This is what the client wants. Get it done and get back here. We already have your next job lined up.”

“Understood.”

I throw my phone against the wall and bring both of my hands up to my throbbing temples. Once a kill order comes in, there is no recourse.

I didn’t save Josie.

And now—now I have to do the unimaginable.