The Enemy i

da's

encircling your thoughts like a vice and turni

flew around, looking for something-someone-out of place, and my heart thumped. I initial

d onto my coffee cup carefully. I picked this location since it was b

another individual? I kept thinking about Nata

she attempting t

exhale. I had to control my paranoia. I nee

was unreadable as he slid into the seat across from me. Even in a busy

appear to have

y teeth. "N

w gloomy. "S

he message. Someone is observing me. I hardly raised my voice

ightened. "Are

t enough. I sense it. I feel like

ing as he leaned forward. "

ause of something in his tone. He was promis

ath. "What if Nat

his face remained the same. A black

quire as to

r to me that I

vening. Luca, his keen-eyed investigator, was already there, seated

d, "I checked your devices."

ed up.

an expleti

or some time. Your calls, messages, location, and ev

come over me. "Daniel.

ork is at a high level. It is being carrie

g, I looked at

ble, I could tell that his jaw mu

rs. "Your possessions were directly access

to me," I whisp

ick to m

ty, she lacked the necessary abilities for such a task. Natalia? She p

was

asp

au

ked upward. "Yo

lways been there for me, listening and asking question

, Luca turned to face

it. However, it made more

"I need to

ttle tighter. "No." His tone was fo

e eye. "I must be

released them. "All right. Howe

I knew the tru

g to be br

d outside the café window. I had asked to meet with her over the phone earlier

ed I wasn't as so

way out, while her hands fidgeted with the napkin. Laura was only actin

y. "My phone wa

es widened for a little while. "W

y jaw. "Don't

aused h

one was someone close to me. Someone who was able to access my personal belongings

turned her head away. "Th

my palm down on the table.

htly till it ripped. "Bren

"A choice is al

ed. "He-he threa

ed me if he had threatened you. You had the option to tell me. However, you gav

ether, and her quiet con

e?" My voice was

... just business," Laura said

the betrayal c

he had been like a sister to

loor as I got to my fe

ency as she reached for m

y hand. Don'

never be able to reassemble were left beh

ss the city. I needed to take a break, ponder, and take a breath. Howe

ng up on the b

the car felt odd

lled wit

but nothin

nd veered out of control

been tamp

rve ahead. I would c

truggling to keep the car on the

dlights emerged in fro

o

stop after he swerved in front of me. As I sat there, hands grasp

fore I had a chance to com

ssion angry. "Are you crazy?

words refused to emerge.

ed down to examine my car's underbelly. He got to

acing as he said, "Someon

ent throug

rst time that I was no long

uggling f