Seeing that woman, one who’d claimed to be Claire’s best friend, had stirred up the most sickening hope. After all, it was the Alpha female who’d come to his home looking for their shared acquaintance, who’d had the clothes Claire had last been wearing, who’d claimed that their mutual friend would have traded her life for theirs. Why else would that sneak visit the Citadel, smirking as if bearing a gold embossed invitation to tea?

Everything was about Claire.

He had not approached her then, could not risk the mission by engaging with the female wild-card. All Corday had done was watch her. Now, Maryanne Cauley might be Claire’s only hope.

Desperate to uncover any information about his friend’s prison, the back of his knuckles banged out three staccato knocks against a traitor’s door. A few seconds later Maryanne was there, smirking like a cat about to lick up cream.

The bitch had the audacity to purr at him. “I was wondering when you were gonna come crawling to me. The men always do, you know.”

Ignoring the female Alpha’s rich vibrations, Corday elbowed past her and barged inside.

Just as he’d hoped, there was a trace of Claire’s scent in the cluttered room... one that emanated from the pile of dirty clothes in the corner.

Moving deeper, tracing his finger over lines of furniture, Corday said, “You have been frequenting the Citadel. Why?”

Brushing against him as she moved to the couch, full red lips held a naughty smirk. “I’m a Follower, Corday.”

“Do you always lie? You know I’m an Enforcer. You know where I live... no one has come for me.”

“I survive. You do your thing, I’ll do mine.”

The very tone of her voice revolted him. “Knock off the whole temptress game. That shit is never going to work.”

“That’s too bad,” she chuckled, taking a seat on her couch. “I like pretty Beta boys.”

“I’m sure you hate me as much as I hate you.”

“That would only make the sex more interesting, don’t you think?”

Corday snorted.

“It’s okay,” Maryanne teased. “I can smell Leslie Kantor all over you. Going after the Premier’s leftovers...” She tutted. “You must have a thing for entangled women.”

“I want to talk about Claire.”

The Alpha’s shark smile withered, Maryanne grew deadly serious. “Talking about my dead best friend is the last thing that is going to happen here.”

“When you go to the Citadel, does Shepherd let you see her?”

“Claire is dead, Corday. Move on.”

“I know he has her.” God, it was hard to admit that out loud. “I have to get her out. If you love her, you need to help her.”