Page 196 of The Vigilante's Lover

I plan to jump into the room as soon as it opens for Klaus, but when the scanner is done, it says, “De Luca approved for entry to the War Room.”

My suspicions are pricked. Why is the system allowing me in?

The question is moot as the door slides open.

We enter a room with a long oval table. A hush falls over the people seated at it as we walk in. I don’t recognize anyone there, as I’ve had no cause to meet them, but I know this is the committee. They are watching a presentation.

Then I see her.

Jovana.

She’s wearing a red dress, tightly fitted. Her hair is perfectly coiffed, like she’s ready to go on a movie set. She’s been talking. Her arm is still upraised, pointing at a towering screen behind her.

When she sees me, she drops her hand. “Well, look who has arrived. Exhibit A in how Sutherland has failed to keep the U.S. syndicate in line. Let’s welcome Mr. Jax De Luca back from the dead.”

I feel all the eyes on me.

Jovana keeps talking. “When Sutherland approached me with this idea for a global network, I saw the brilliance behind it. I helped him from every stage, recruiting the operatives to identify the weaknesses in thenetwork.”

She walks closer to me. “But Mr. De Luca here is a prime example of Sutherland’s failed leadership. Jax broke out of Ridley Prison even with Vigilante surveillance.”

An image behind her shows footage of me clocking the guard outside the prison.

“He also walked right into a high-security silo in Missouri, despite his fugitive status, and then he escaped it.”

Another image shows me emerging from the hatch.

Mia is noticeably missing from these photos. She’s been digitally erased.

“And as the final blow to the security and information integrity of this network, we have a dead man walking.”

A few seconds of my crashing fall during the supposed execution play onscreen.

She leans forward, both hands braced on the table. The committee is rapt, hanging on her every word. “This is why Sutherland needs to be removed from power immediately.”

Klaus rocks back on his heels. He seems very pleased with how everything has gone.

And that’s when it hits me. I was chosen on purpose. Someone they could count on to beat the Vigilantes at their own game. To show their flaws, their weaknesses.

This was never about Sutherland.

It was always Jovana.

20: Mia

For several long seconds, I can only stare at Sutherland’s body. I know it’s just a stunner. That he’ll wake up in a couple hours feeling like he’s been on a bender.

But the security system goes bananas. Alarms flash and lights go off.

The girl who was in the room at first returns and stares down at Sutherland.

“It’s just a drug,” I say quickly. “He’s not dead. He’s not in any danger, even.”

“System. Scan for respiration,” she says.

A beam comes down and crosses Sutherland’s body. “Respiration not registering,” the voice says. “Subject deceased.”

I stand there, mouth open. “No! He’s not!” But then I remember that the new stuff made Jax pass for dead. That’s why the execution was so convincing.