“Why?” I blurted out, my throat tightening as I forced the word out.

Harris tilted his head, feigning confusion. “Hmm?”

I stared into his unreadable eyes. “Why are you… so nice to me?”

He smirked, but I pushed on. “We barely know each other, and honestly, I’m just… some pawn for you, right?”

His chuckle was low, almost amused. “What? Am I wrong to be nice?”

“Yeah. It makes me uneasy,” I admitted, my voice steady. “No one’s just ...