Chapter 17 Complications
Anna's POV
At the last second, I paused.
“Oh,” I said lightly, looking at the man. “Do you need my dominant hand? I injured this finger last week.”
It wasn’t a complete lie. There was still a faint cut from when I had broken glass during my escape attempt.
The man hesitated. “Either hand is fine.”
Good.
I pressed my left thumb onto the scanner instead of my right.
Because if there was any record anywhere, it would most likely be tied to my dominant hand.
The machine beeped. I kept my breathing steady.
The man stared at the screen. Seconds stretched.
Xavier swirled his wine calmly. Lucas watched me.
Then the man frowned slightly.
“Strange,” he muttered.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“What?” Xavier asked.
“There’s no data match. Not even basic civil registration. It’s like she doesn’t exist.”
I forced a confused look onto my face. “What does that mean?”
Xavier leaned forward slowly. “It means,” he said softly, “either you’re exactly what you claim to be… or you’re far more interesting than I thought.”
His eyes locked onto mine.
I realized he wasn’t trying to expose me. He was enjoying this. The uncertainty. The mystery.
And I had just made myself even more valuable.
He smiled faintly. “Well,” he said, standing up. “That makes things… complicated.”
My throat felt dry as Lucas broke the silence.
“What do you mean by complicated?” he asked Xavier.
Xavier leaned back slowly, still watching the screen like it was a piece of art.
“Either Anna’s story checks out,” he said calmly, “or it doesn’t. Even if it checks, the system should bring up something. Date of birth. Hospital record. Orphanage intake. School registration. Something.”
His eyes flicked toward me. “But there’s nothing. No records at all.”
The man with the laptop adjusted his glasses.
“It’s also possible she’s a spy,” he added carefully. “But if she is, then her organization is far more complex than the usual ones. I could check with the CIA. They may have a more powerful detection system.”
My pulse slammed violently against my ribs.
Xavier nodded. “Do that. But before you leave… there’s one more thing I want to check.”
The man straightened. “What would you like me to do, sir?”
Xavier’s gaze shifted to me. “Show me your injured finger,” he said softly. “The right one.”
My stomach dropped.
For a split second, I considered refusing. But refusing would be worse.
I slowly lifted my right hand.
He took it gently, turning it over, examining my skin like he was studying a rare specimen. His thumb brushed over my palm, warm and deliberate, until he found the faint cut near my finger.
“There it is,” he murmured.
His eyes lifted to mine. “You wouldn’t mind a little pain, would you?”
“What pain?” I asked, though I already knew.
“Bring the scanner,” Xavier ordered.
The man stepped closer.
I swallowed as Xavier took my injured finger himself and placed it firmly on the scanner. His eyes never left my face.
He wasn’t watching the machine. He was watching me. Looking for a flinch. A tremor. Fear.
I steadied my breathing. Inhale. Slow. Exhale. Controlled.
A skill I had mastered during training.
The machine beeped. The sound echoed like a gunshot in my head.
The man’s expression shifted instantly. “Yes,” he said quietly.
My eyes widened despite myself.
Xavier’s lips curved into a slow smile before he turned toward the laptop. He stepped closer to the screen while still observing me from the corner of his eye.
“Let me see,” he murmured.
The man angled the laptop toward him, blocking my view.
Every second stretched painfully.
My heart thudded louder. What did it show? Had they found it?
Had they— “Lucas,” Xavier called casually. “Come check this out.”
My stomach sank.
Lucas walked over, his expression darkening as he read whatever was displayed.
His jaw tightened. “Fuck,” he muttered.
The word hit me like a bullet.
Xavier chuckled softly. “Her credit card history reveals something interesting.”
I frowned slightly.
If they had uncovered my true identity, he wouldn’t be talking about credit cards.
I forced myself to breathe and asked, “What do you mean?”
Xavier turned the laptop slowly so I could see.
Relief nearly made my knees buckle.
It was everything about me, legal name, spending history, foster registration, minor transactions. Everything.
Except my secret agency ties.
Xavier tapped the screen. “You’ve spent quite a lot of money at a particular club,” he said. “A club that belongs to a Capo I know very well.”
My eyes widened. “That’s not me,” I said immediately. “I’ve never been to a club before.”
Xavier raised an eyebrow. “But your credit card has.”
Lucas stepped forward slightly. “I don’t think she’s the one who used it. Look at the timestamp. The card was used last night.”
He glanced at me. “She was here last night.”
Xavier tilted his head slowly. “Then tell me, Anna… who else has access to your credit card? A boyfriend? Girlfriend? or perhaps your foster dad?”
I forced myself to think carefully. “It… it might be my foster brother,” I said finally. “Sam. He could have stolen it.”
Xavier’s expression shifted. “ The same Sam?” he repeated. “Isn’t he dead? That’s what his father said.”
Lucas looked between us. “Is this the same Sam who made you lose money? and got your accountant in prison?”
Xavier nodded slowly.
My heart skipped. So that was the connection.
“Yes,” I said quietly. “I don’t think Sam is dead. His father could have lied.”
Xavier’s smile returned, darker this time. “Interesting.”
He turned to Lucas. “Find Sam. Bring him to me. And bring his father too.”
“Yes, boss,” Lucas replied immediately.
Xavier handed the laptop back to the man. “You may leave.”
The man bowed and exited.
Lucas turned to follow, but Xavier’s voice stopped him. “Not alone, go with Anna.”
My breath caught.
Both Lucas and I froze. Lucas looked just as surprised as I felt.