His face flushed and he clenched his teeth together. “You got messed up in a financial scheme that put powerful people in prison. Of course you’re in danger.”

He acted like he hated her. Like she disgusted him.

She stalled. “Have you heard about a threat?”

“I don’t have to. I just know.”

He sounded . . . deluded. “Do the other people in your office agree?”

“My judgment matters, not theirs.” Evan shook his head. It was almost as if he was talking to himself and not her. “They don’t understand. They think of this work as a job. It’s so much more than that.”

“You like helping people.”

“I create survivors.”

What the hell? The words sounded sick and twisted. Like she was more machine than human to him.

Her heart hammered in her ears. “I’m not a creation.”

“You sure as hell are.” He smiled as pride crept into his voice. “The way you conquered your fear of heights. All those drills. You learned to shoot despite watching people die in front of you in a hail of bullets.” He held up a fist. “Nerves of steel.”

“No.” She shook her head. If he saw the truth maybe he would back down. “I’m a mess.”

He got right in her face. “Because you’ve been away from me. Getting soft.”

“I’m trying to have a life.”

“You don’t get to. You fucked up and your life was turned over to me.”

He did hate her. She could hear it in the dismissive tone. As far as he was concerned she’d forfeited her life and now it belonged to him.

It was all so clear now. The way he treated everyone, including her. His immediate hatred of Connor and anyone who cared about her. The way he yanked her back for more training whenever she started to venture out and live. Made her log hours at the shooting range. Buried her in guilt. The emotional manipulation and all that talk about keeping to herself.

He’d shown Whitaker to her. She could disappear here. Live in the woods. All of his words came back to her. Slammed into her with enough force to knock her over.

A new wave of fear crashed over her. “Evan . . .”

“For once I am going to keep what’s mine.”

Connor could not stand still. They’d been to Maddie’s house and his cabin. Now, he paced the small confines of Sylvia’s office. He could feel Ben watching, along with Sylvia and Jenna. They gathered there to make plans. It would be at least an hour before reinforcements could get there. They expected snow showers today, which would only delay the assistance.

For now, the rescue was on them.