Maya had never admitted how much that detail had haunted her.
The coffin had been closed.
Military officials told her recovery had been impossible.
She had accepted it because accepting it hurt less than questioning it.
Maya’s voice dropped.
“He let me believe he was d/e/@/d?”
Aaron’s expression tightened.
“He was ordered to disappear.”
“For eight years?”
“To protect you.”
A bitter laugh escaped her.
“Protect me?”
“He believed the network would come after anyone he loved.”
“They did come after someone.”
Aaron’s eyes moved toward Leo.
Maya immediately pulled her son closer.
“What do they want?”
Aaron hesitated.
Then he looked directly at her.
“They want Ethan.”
Maya frowned.
“Then why target this plane?”
“Because Ethan would never expose himself for a commercial aircraft.”
Aaron paused.
“Unless you were on it.”
The truth settled over her like ice.
“This flight was bait.”
“Yes.”
“And I was the hook.”
