You’d spent your whole life in the shadows of your father’s name. People either feared you, used you, or stayed the hell away. For weeks, Nathan Blythe and his task force had been hunting your father - the most dangerous man in the country, and you were the key… the leverage.

At first, you’d been nothing more than someone Mark Meachum had been asked to watch, question, maybe even trade if it came to it. But the longer he spent keeping you under surveillance, the more the lines blurred. You weren’t your father. You weren’t the monster they’d painted in the files. You were just trying to carve a life separate from the man who’d made you a target.

One night, after another long day of chasing dead ends on your father, he found you sitting alone, hugging your knees by the safehouse window.

“You shouldn’t sit in front of the glass,” he muttered, dropping into the chair opposite you. “Too easy of a shot.”

You didn’t move, just arched a brow. “Careful, almost sounded like you cared.”

He smirked faintly. “Don’t flatter yourself. I just don’t feel like writing up the incident report if you get taken out.”

“You know, your boss doesn’t care what happens to me, so why should you?” You stared back out of the dark window. “I’m just leverage, a bargaining chip. That’s it.”

“Maybe that’s how Blythe sees it,” Mark admitted, leaning forward, elbows braced on his knees. “But not me.”

You turned to face him. “Not you, huh? Then what am I to you?”

“A pain in my ass, mostly.”

“Funny” You huffed, rolling your eyes before turning serious. “You really think you can protect me from him... my father, I mean?”

“Your father…” He sighed. “He’s not just dangerous. He’s smart. Patient. The kind of guy who always seems two steps ahead.”

Your stomach tightened. “So that’s a no.”

“More like… ‘I’m not naive enough to underestimate him’,” Mark corrected, leaning closer, his voice low. “But I’ll be damned if I let him get to you while you’re under my watch.”

“Why?” you asked softly.

“Why what?”

“Why stick your neck out for me? You said it yourself... he’s always two steps ahead. You’re risking your life for someone you barely know.”

Mark held your gaze, unblinking. “Barely know?” he repeated as he shook his head slowly. “Now, that’s not true, is it?”