"Baby face?" Liam exclaimed. "I’m a trained operative."

"Who made a grown woman cry because he got scared?" Leo interrupted smoothly.

Liam tensed up. "That’s not, I had my reasons."

"Oh, I’m sure they seemed super important to you," Leo said, totally unfazed. "Just like everything else in your head."

"Leo," Aylin warned, though she was struggling not to smile.

Zayden leaned against his desk, arms crossed, obviously entertained. "Are you two done yet?"

"He started it," Liam mumbled.

"I’m here to finish it," Leo said with a cheerful tone.

"Okay, that’s enough," Zayden said, though there was laughter in his voice. "Leo, quit messing with our new recruit. Liam, stop falling for his tricks so easily."

Both guys grumbled but eventually quieted down.

Zayden stood up straight, his face getting serious. "Leo, there’s something you should know. About Liam. About his dad. About Aylin’s parents."

Leo perked up. "I’m listening."

For the next thirty minutes, Zayden and Aylin laid everything out: the betrayal, the framing, the murders that looked like accidents, Charles’s survival, and Ghost Net’s role.

Then they dropped the big reveal.

"Ghost Net isn’t a group," Zayden said quietly. "It’s one person. Azalea."

Leo’s jaw dropped. "What?"

"My sister," Zayden confirmed. "She’s been running the show this whole time. Handing out jobs, controlling info, playing us all."

"You’re taking this pretty well," Aylin pointed out.

"I’m compartmentalizing," Leo replied. "I’ll freak out later. Right now, we’ve got to focus on Alexander Kane."

Zayden nodded. "Absolutely. He’s the key to everything. He framed Charles, killed Aylin’s parents, and he’s still out there. If we find him, we can wrap this up."

"Then let’s track him down," Leo said seriously.

*****

The room was pitch black except for the light from a single phone screen.

A guy sat in the dark, his face completely hidden.

The only things visible were his hands, scarred and rough, the hands of someone who had seen some real trouble.

He dialed a number he remembered.

It rang three times before someone picked up.

"Hello?" Alpha’s voice was sharp and cautious.

The guy in the dark smirked. "Long time no see, Alpha."

There was a moment of silence, then Alpha laughed, genuinely surprised. "You."

The guy replied, "I should’ve guessed you’d show up sooner or later."

"Patience, my friend," Alpha said coolly. "I’ll call when I think I need you."

"And when’s that going to be?" the guy asked.

"Soon," Alpha promised. "Very soon. Things are about to get interesting."

They chatted for a few more minutes, the older man catching up, throwing out subtle threats, and sharing information.

Then the call dropped.

The guy set his phone down and leaned back into the shadows, his grin still there.

Interesting for sure.

*****

Selina stood in her kitchen, sipping coffee and staring out the window at the city below.

Her body felt pleasantly worn out, a nice reminder of the night before with Leo. A small smile crept onto her face.

Then her phone went off.

Maksim.

The smile disappeared.

She answered, keeping her tone chill. "Hey."

"Come over," Maksim said right away. "Now."

Selina looked at her half-finished breakfast. "I’m eating. I can swing by after."

"Fine," Maksim said, "but don’t take too long."

The call cut off.

Selina stared at her phone, a knot of dread forming in her stomach.

This is the life you chose, she thought bitterly. Play the part. Stay alive.

She finished her coffee, dressed carefully, nothing too revealing, but enough to keep Maksim interested, and drove to his place.

*****

When she got there, Maksim was waiting, shirtless, with that familiar predatory look in his eyes.

"You’re late," he said, pulling her inside.

"Five minutes," Selina shot back. "Not really late."

His lips crashed onto hers, cutting off her words as his hands already started to tug at her dress, impatient and forceful.

"Bedroom," he growled against her lips. "Now."

Guilt twisted in Selina’s chest. She had just been with Leo less than twelve hours ago. Her body was still sore, still sensitive.

But she couldn’t tell Maksim that.

She couldn’t risk him asking too many questions.

So, she followed him to the bedroom, already mentally checking out and getting ready to play her role, the one she had perfected over the years.

Maksim shoved her onto the bed. "Undress. On all fours."

Selina hesitated for just a moment.

Maksim caught it. "Problem?"

"No," she said quickly, already taking off her clothes. "No problem."

She got into position like she was told, feeling really down on herself, hating the whole situation, and regretting letting Leo in, only to instantly betray that closeness.

"It’s not betrayal," she told herself firmly. "It’s about survival. Leo knows who I really am. He gets what I do."

Still, the guilt stuck around.

Maksim moved behind her, his hands rough on her hips. "You’re mine," he said almost casually.

"You know that, right? Once this is all over, when HK is gone, and Alpha is dealt with, you’ll be my queen."

"Yeah," Selina breathed, the lie coming easily even though her heart was screaming against it.

Suddenly, Maksim thrust into her, and Selina stifled a gasp, not from pleasure, but from pain, her body not ready after last night.

But she played the part anyway, moaning when she was supposed to and moving when prompted, letting Maksim use her body like she was just a thing to him.

He switched positions a bunch of times; behind her, in front, on her back, on her knees, every one more demanding than the last.

After about an hour, Maksim finally finished, flopping down next to her with a satisfied groan.

Selina lay still, staring at the ceiling, feeling empty inside.

"I love Leo," she suddenly realized. "And I just betrayed him without him even knowing."

"You’re quiet," Maksim noted, lighting up a cigarette.

"Just tired," Selina replied, forcing a smile. "You’re... pretty thorough."

Maksim laughed, pleased with himself. "Get used to it. Once you’re my queen, this will be a daily thing."

Over my dead body, Selina thought angrily.

But on the outside, she just smiled and snuggled against his side, playing the role of the devoted lover, all while secretly planning his downfall.

If Selina is playing everyone... who’s playing her?