Page 96 of Bride of Vengeance

"Because I have a baby now, and their safety comes first. I don't want this life for them. I don't want to run away, or be shot, or live in hiding, or continue hunting. I want a normal life for my child. I want out." Her voice cracks convincingly. "And I don't care what I have to sacrifice to get it."

"Prove it," Harrison demands.

She pulls out her phone, types something. My phone buzzes—coordinates.

"He's coming here. Alone, thinking I'm in danger. He'll walk right into whatever trap you set."

Harrison laughs. "You really think we'd let you go?"

"I think you're smart enough to know killing a pregnant federal agent creates more problems than it solves."

"Former federal agent."

"The media won't care about that distinction, I’m sure."

They're buying it. I can see it in their body language, the way they're relaxing. They think they've won.

"He'll be here in twenty minutes," Mariana continues. "Set your trap. I'll play the bait."

"If this is a trick, I’ll kill you both."

Harrison nods slowly. "Pavel, get your men in position. Ghost walks into this house, he doesn't walk out."

Pavel leaves, and Harrison turns back to Mariana.

"You know," he says conversationally, "I always knew you'd break. Too emotional for this work. Too weak. And too obsessed."

"Maybe."

"Definitely. Falling for a criminal? Getting pregnant? You're a walking cliché."

"If you say so."

He moves closer, and I tense. "Want to know a secret? I've been selling women for twenty-three years. Your beloved Ghost's sister? She was one of my first. Eighteen years old, terrified, begging for her life. Sold her for thirty thousand."

"You're a monster."

"I'm a businessman. And business has been very good."

"Until now."

"No, especially now. With Ghost dead and you disappeared, I'll be the hero who survived. My reputation secured for another decade."

"You really think it's that easy?"

"I know it is." He's close to her now, too close. "You know what the best part is? Your child will never know their father. Will never know anything except what I tell them."

"You're not touching my child."

"We'll see."

Through my earpiece, Mila's voice: "Got it. Every word, crystal clear."

Mariana smiles. "Thank you."

"You—"

He raises his gun, but I'm already moving. The knife leaves my hand before he can pull the trigger, burying itself in his shoulder. He screams, dropping the weapon.