Maverick didn’t leave right away. Instead, he lingered by the door, eavesdropping on my conversation with Talia.

As luck—or misfortune—would have it, there was a mirror positioned perfectly by the doorway. From the outside, it revealed nothing, but from where I sat, I had a clear view of anyone standing just beyond the room.

Talia, sharp as ever, caught onto my intention immediately. She shifted gears, her tone turning deliberately conspiratorial. “Do you ...