I was trying to identify the man I’d glimpsed in Siberia, one of the two Americans we hadn’t got photos of. I’d only seen his face for a split second when I shot at him, but it was burned into my mind. It wasn’t enough to create a photofit, but I’d know him if I saw him. So I was going through photos of former US special forces soldiers of roughly the right age and height. There were thousands, but I could look at one photo every five seconds. I’d been at it for four hours but I wasn’t quitting. My father had sometimes done this for entire days, searching for the face of a traitor he’d glimpsed.

And then, quite suddenly, his face filled the screen. British, but seconded to Delta Force. Danny Briggs.

I picked up the phone and organized a flash alert. In ten minutes, every police force in Europe would have the photo. Then the online news sites would pick it up, then the TV news. The best part was, he thought he was still anonymous. He didn’t know we were coming.

50. Erin

50

ERIN

We pulled up outside an imposing building with towering stone columns. Danny stepped out first and offered his hand.

I put my hand in his and his warm fingers curled around mine in a strong, safe grip. I used it to haul myself up out of the car and his arm didn’t shift at all, even when I suddenly wobbled in my heels. The brute strength of him made me go weak. For a second, I just wanted to throw myself at him and cling to him, wrap myself around him and feel utterly safe again, like I had in the fisherman’s hut. I’d been missing that feeling ever since.

I forced the feelings down inside. We can’t.

Danny offered me his arm and we joined the flow of people heading up the red-carpeted stairs towards the massive entrance doors. Katharina had been right: everyone was in couples. As we followed the staircase around the bend and joined the crowd waiting to step through the doors, I started to hang back, my eyes darting around nervously. The other women strutted around confidently, like they’d been born in heels. They were tall and elegant and beautiful and suddenly it was like prom all over again: I needed to find a corner to stand in, with the other geeks.

Danny looked at me. “Erin?” he asked softly.

I said nothing, embarrassed.

He followed my gaze to the other women and then looked back at me. He blinked, as if surprised.

And then his eyes narrowed and his jaw set. Like he wouldn’t allow anyone to make me feel bad…even me. He put his finger under my chin and lifted it so that I had to look at him. His eyes flared, the green going from cool to scalding.