He looked down, breathing deliberately. He folded his arms and flexed his fingers around his biceps. “She’s never going tostop turning to you for these things. It’s a habit. And she’s such a creature of fucking habit, she won’t stop on her own.”
That was true. Scarlett liked things the way she liked them. She wanted her plans to remain under control.
“Listen, Rav…” He took one final deep breath and looked at me. “I have a feeling it’s as much a habit for you as it is for her. I don’t know what to do about this other than talk to you. Because talking to her about it hasn’t changed anything.”
Before I could come up with anything that didn’t sound like an excuse, he gave me a sharp nod and left.
What was I supposed to do with all of that?
Perimeter. Guard the perimeter. Move to the north wall.
Watch.
Protect.
Chapter 11
Brooke
The viewfrom the balcony was stunning, the moonlight silvering the Bay of Naples while distant city lights twinkled along the shoreline. I leaned against the railing, grateful for a moment of solitude after the chaotic day. The Mediterranean breeze carried a hint of salt from the bay, a simple reminder of where I was.
I’d traveled so much over the past three years that I needed to grab onto whatever sensory details I could find to ground myself.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to see Percival’s name on the display.
“Hey,” I answered.
“Just confirming tomorrow’s appointment,” he said without preamble. “Meet’s still on for ten thirty at the university lab?”
“Yeah, Dr. Norris is expecting us. I’ll need about an hour to go over the specifications for the suit treatments with him,” I said, watching a small ferry cut across the bay. “He understands I’ll be leaving the suits with his team to complete the work.”
“How’s the Reynolds crew treating you?” His voice carried a hint of concern.
I hesitated. Rather than confess the first thing on my brain—how much Rav’s proximity was affecting me—I said, “Scarlett thinks I need an escort tomorrow. It’ll be either Malcolm or Rav, depending on their meeting with Noah.”
“That’s unnecessary. I’m meeting you there.”
“That’s what I told them.” Maybe I’d press Scarlett on that in the morning.
He paused. “How’s Rav?”
The hallway encounter flashed through my mind—his hands gripping my arms, our bodies inches apart, the overwhelming sense of recognition in his eyes. How many times had we stood like that, marveling at what had been evolving between us?
My heart accelerated.
Fate wasn’t fair.
“We barely spoke,” I lied. “He’s busy making security arrangements.”
“Right.” Percival didn’t sound convinced. “I’ll meet you at the lab regardless of who they send.”
“I’ll be there.”
After ending the call, I lingered a moment longer, absorbing the peaceful view. Scarlett was still downstairs coordinating with the team, and I’d needed a moment away.
The scars along my neck and chest tingled, a sensation that sometimes surfaced when I was anxious. Six years of hiding them, of relearning how to exist in my damaged body, and they still felt like a foreign presence—a constant reminder of what I’d lost.
With a resigned sigh, I turned back into the bedroom. The furniture was elegant and antique. A dresser sat next to a tall wardrobe, a small desk with an antique chair, and a single king-sized bed dominated the room. The decorative pillows and a plush duvet called to me.
