Page 185 of Lust & Lies

“What team?” I shot back.

“The group you’re with,” he said, spreading his hands, gesturing toward those in the room.

“If they’re my team, why did they bring me to you?”

He leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “Because, unlike you, they follow orders.”

“Hmmm. Why am I here?” I asked.

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You know what? I don’t think you’ve lost your memory at all.”

“And I don’t think my medical history is any of your business,” I countered.

That smug smile faded. He straightened in his seat, leaning back, eyes narrowing.

“This will be the last time you talk to me like that, Mist.”

“Mist? Who’s that?” I asked.

He watched me for a second, gaze searching mine, looking for hints that I was faking it. I held his gaze, refusing to lookaway. I would never cower before this man again. I would never cower before anyone again.

The version of me that craved his approval and feared what he could do to me and Aiden was long gone. She hadn’t returned when my memory came back. She died in that car crash months ago.

A chuckle escaped him before he said, “So you want to know who Mist is, huh?”

I nodded.

“She’s no one important,” he told me.

I bit my tongue to keep from replying.

“Memory or no memory, your contract isn’t up yet. You’re still mine. And you’ve gone and killed two of your comrades. You know the punishment for killing one of your own is death, right, Mist?”

I maneuvered the pin in my palm as I stared at him, using it to slowly unlock the cuffs. I had to keep Mr. Park talking until backup arrived.

“Oh, are you talking to me?” I asked. “I thought you were talking to Mist.” My gaze moved to Viper.

Viper’s lips curled into a sneer. “I am not Mist,” she hissed. “I’m no traitor to the Watchdogs.”

“Ohhhh, Mist is a traitor?” I asked, sounding surprised.

“Stop pretending,” Mr. Park yelled, slamming his hand on his desk. “I can see it in your eyes. Your memory is there. You know who I am, and you know who you are.”

Not being remembered by me was really bothering him.

“What do you see in my eyes?” I snapped, speaking loudly to muffle the sound of the lock clicking open on the cuffs.

“I see a frightened little girl who doesn’t know who she really is,” Mr. Park answered.

“Is that so?” I asked, holding the unlocked cuffs in my palm. “But you just said I knew who you were and who I was. Nowyou’re saying I’m a little girl who doesn’t know who I am. Which is it?”

“When I say you don’t know who you are, I mean you have no true identity. Are you Mist? Are you Noa? Or are you Noah? You don’t even know if you’re male or female. You’ve lived as both. Do you even know who you are?”

I bit my tongue and ignored the pain that sliced through me. My blurred identity was my weak spot, and he knew it. Next to him, Viper smirked at me as Mr. Park continued degrading me.

“When I look into your eyes, I see someone who’s at her best when she’s following my orders. When left to her own devices, she only causes chaos.”

I’ll show you chaos. Just wait.