Surrender

“I don’t need you to follow. I need you do something. Can you do something, Emily?”

I was silent.

She leaned toward me on the bench. “We know what you’re capable of, probably more than you do. While we appreciate that you’re here to support him, you can’t expect me to believe a woman with a law degree—a woman who was competing for the highest honor at American University, who was trying to take down a US Senator—is fulfilled by picking out coffee tables and drapes?” She huffed. “Wouldn’t you like to do something? Something that matters?”

“He doesn’t want me to get involved,” I argued.

“I told you he’s not the same man. It has become a problem. You could be the asset that helps him through. He won’t admit it, but he needs help. This is something you could do for him. Consider it a win-win.”

I knew there was always someone who would lose when Blackwing was involved. Their victim. Despite everything running through my head, I was curious. It was the first time I had a chance to see behind the curtain. I knew it was a tactic, but it was true—I did want to do something that mattered.

I nodded. “All right. But I have conditions.”

She shifted her beret to adjust it in the wind.

“Let’s hear them.”

I didn’t have time to negotiate everything. I wasn’t sure I could list all the things I wanted. I needed time to think, and time was the one thing I didn’t have.

“I’d like to know more about the people involved. I want to know who the mark is and what the target is.”

“No. Absolutely not. What else do you have?”

I pressed my lips together. “How long is the assignment for Leo?” I felt more comfortable using his alias in public.

“I’m trying to push up the timeline. Staying in Paris long-term isn’t wise.”

I rolled my eyes. “Why did you pretend to be our realtor?” I folded my arms.

She tilted her head to one side. “All right. I can answer that. It was to assess you.”

“I want more than that. Assess me for what?”

She sighed. “To see if you are compatible. To watch you two together. To test him. To see how he handled it when I pushed you to answer questions.”

“Did we pass or fail?”

“You’re still here, dear. You passed. That’s enough for questions. I’ll play along again next time.”

“Next time? I haven’t agreed to this time. You didn’t meet all my conditions.”

She laughed. “It’s cute you think it works like that, but it doesn’t. Blackwing sets the rules, not the other way around.” She reached in her pocket.

“There is a couple who moved into your building a few days ago.” She handed me a folded piece of paper. “I need you to drop by the apartment, introduce yourself to the wife, and invite them up for dinner. Do you have enough furniture to host another couple?”

I nodded slowly as I opened the note and read the address.

“And then what?” I asked.

“I think that will be enough for one assignment. Leo can take it from there.”

“I don’t understand, you said you wanted to use my great legal mind. That furniture shopping isn’t fulfilling enough for someone like me. Now you want me to set up a dinner party? This is bullshit.” I was insulted when I should have been scared. I was focused on the wrong things. She had flattered me only to slap me across the face.

“One step at a time. It’s not as if we’re going to trust you with a high-level assignment on your first try. Set up the dinner party. He’ll get the message. I don’t care how it gets done.”

Eloise stood, slipping her handbag over her shoulder. “The husband is currently out. The wife will be home when you get back. Make the invitation. You don’t have much time to put this together, Emily. It needs to happen tonight. Don’t try to delay it. Stalling is never permitted.”

“I’m not supposed to tell Leo?”