You and Michael have had an on and off relationship for years. You were both recruits in the Naturals program—you could tell if people were lying, and Michael could read emotions. The two of you were currently on your “on” cycle again.

Briggs had just informed you that Michael’s childhood best friend, Celine, was missing. You were at her house at the moment, attempting to figure out who took her and how they did it.

Michael had been on edge since he was told about the case. Of course he was—he’d known Celine his whole life.

“Michael,” Cassie said, “Why would Celine have a picture of your father on her computer? Why would she have drawn him?”

Michael stared at the computer screen, his face unreadable.

“Townsend, tell me you think this case has something to do with the Masters.” You went for the jugular. “Tell me that you haven’t known, from the second you saw that crime scene, that it does not.”

“In five seconds,” Michael said instead, his gaze intent on you, “I’m going to tell you that I love you. And if you’re still in the room when I say it, you’re going to know.”

Whether he loves you. Whether he doesn’t.

If you’d known for certain that the answer was the latter, you wouldn’t have moved. If no part of you wanted him to love you, you wouldn’t have cared. Instead, you looked at Michael with something like hatred in your eyes.

And then you ran.