Sarah's betrayal was the small, brightly lit family lounge. It was wh

and her face broke into a

ing her small arms around my legs. "You're ba

her back, her innocent affection a balm on my shattered

said, my voice softer

ou a cookie," she said, pu

eat," I

k and some leftover pasta salad in the fridge. I heated it up for us, the simple domestic act feeling strangely calming. For fifteen minutes, there was p

red by the sound of the door

ere, her face

with him?" she demanded,

er to me, her small hand gripping my arm.

her daughter and fixing her glare on me. She strode int

from my

r arm, she knocked the plates of food onto the floor. The ceram

ut, her eyes wide wit

ontorted with rage. "Trying to poison her mind against me? Turni

de me snapped. The numbness that had encased my heart cracke

ainst the floor. For the first time, I

, my voice dangerously low. "S

. "You are a liability, a loose cannon. I want you out of this

child as a weapon against me, to destroy a

I am the only reason your precious agency has Thorne's data. I am the reason

u got to play the hero. Wasn't that wha

took a step toward her, my hands clenched into fists. For a wild secon

l the pain and betrayal of the la

ispered, the words heavy with a

be even a flash of hurt-but it was gone as q

ice dropping to a deadly wh

ay from me. Lily started to cry, reach

her grip unrelenting as she dragged

room. I stood there for a long time, surrounded by the mess on the

e had taken my work, my dignity, and no

to my quarters, I was going to pack my bags, and I was going to erase m

-