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have more respect for that.”
    Neveed’s nostrils flared. “You don’t know the whole story.”
    I looked to Armise, not even having to spend one second searching his reaction to know the truth of everything between us. I trusted Armise. Because he had earned that trust from me through words and action. And while Neveed believed he could still manipulate me with this, I’d seen through his bullshit so long ago that his taunts no longer held power over me.
    “How fucking sure of that are you?” I whispered to Neveed.
    Neveed’s eyes widened and he retreated, fury sharpening his features. “If you do, then I need to keep the President away from you, too.”
    “Call me when you have an actual job for Armise and me,” I spat back at him. “I’m taking a fucking hot shower.”
    At least I didn’t have to storm out of the room by myself this time. Armise was already ahead of me, his muscles tense as he held the door for me, openly eyeing where Neveed was standing, shaking, trying—and failing—to contain a visible show of anger.
    I restrained the urge to slam the control room door closed and headed down the tunnel to where the quarters were located.
    I waited at the threshold to our quarters for Armise, allowing him to enter before me, much like that first day in the bunker when he had told me that perception mattered. More than time had elapsed between that August day and now, though. Armise didn’t hesitate this time.
    “I need to see the President,” I grumbled as I flipped the lock and shut the rest of the bunker out of our room. I began to strip down, unlacing my boots and setting them to the side.
    Armise shook his head. “I don’t think your General is going to allow that to happen. At least not while I’m here.”
    I went into the en suite and flipped on the shower to the hottest temperature possible then walked back out and faced Armise. “Forget Neveed Niaz. I’m not here for him.”
    “Let’s stop bullshitting each other. We’re wasting time by being here. There are nine more Committee members to be taken out and Ahriman Blanc. I know the President thinks he needs you here, but he doesn’t. His security team is more than capable.”
    “You saw what happened to Simion. He was one of the President’s best. And Jegs is questionable because of her brother, Grimshaw. I owe him this.”
    “Such bullshit,” Armise grumbled.
    My duty to the President was more unassailable than my recent revelation that Armise may deserve the same level of allegiance. I seethed—there was no other word for it. “Maybe you should save your opinions for something you actually know about.”
    “Maybe you should open your eyes, Merq. I’m the only one in this place that has your best interests in mind. I’m loyal to you and we stand together in this. You owe me, not him.”
    I stopped with my fingers at the top button of my pants and my head snapped up. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
    Armise pointed at me. “Your President is the one who sends you out on missions to be killed. I’m the one who makes sure you make it out alive. Look, I get it. I know you believe in the Revolution. Otherwise you wouldn’t be following the President so fucking blindly. But Ahriman is the key here. No one else. We have to go through the Committee members and get to him.”
    I shook my head and continued to strip. “We have to be methodical about this, not emotional. If we get to Ahriman before eliminating the others, someone else will just rise up to take his place.”
    Armise stood stock still, his arms crossed, staring me down.
    And that was when I had the sickening thought that maybe Neveed had been right about me not knowing the whole story. “Why do I get the feeling you’re hiding something from me?”
    “Because I am,” he answered without hesitation.
    I narrowed my eyes. “About what exactly?”
    Armise ground his teeth together then answered, “I am Ahriman’s number two. He dies and I’m set to take