"Don't." I shake my head. "We can do both."
"Can we?" His voice is soft. Sad. "Or is that what we told ourselves in Florence?"
The question sits between us. Heavy. Damning.
"This is different." But even as I say it, I'm not sure I believe it.
"Is it?"
Before I can answer, Jenny's voice cuts through the room. "De Gaulle. Merlin. Conference room. Now."
We follow her through a door I hadn't noticed—clever camouflage built into the farmhouse's rustic paneling. The space beyond is small, windowless, soundproofed. A room built for secrets.
Sam and Forest are already inside, standing with arms crossed. The easy camaraderie from earlier is gone, replaced by something harder. More dangerous.
"Sit." Jenny doesn't make it a request.
We sit.
She remains standing, looming over us in a clearly intentional way. Establishing dominance. Control. "Before we go any further, there's something we need to discuss. Your agenda."
My stomach tightens. "What agenda?"
"Don't insult our intelligence." Forest's voice is cold. "You're not here just to save Vivianne. You're after something else. Something you think is in that house."
"I find that comment insulting. Vivianne is my priority." Merlin and I exchange glances. How much do we tell them? How much do they already know?
"The Swan pendant." Sam leans against the wall, casual. But his eyes are sharp. Alert. "A ruby the size of a quail's egg. Stolen in World War II. Missing ever since."
"Until Paul painted it around Vivianne's neck." Jenny's gaze locks onto mine. "Painted her wearing something she'd never seen before. Something that just happens to match her grandmother's earrings. Earrings that came from a matching set."
"We did our homework." CJ crosses his arms. "The question is—did you think we wouldn't?"
The silence stretches. Taut. Dangerous.
"Yes." Merlin's voice is calm. Steady. "We're after the pendant. It belonged to someone I loved. Someone who died because of it. I want it back."
"And that won't compromise the mission?" Jenny's tone makes it clear what she thinks of that idea.
"It won't?—"
"Bullshit." Sam pushes off the wall. "You're telling me that if you have to choose between grabbing that pendant and getting Vivianne out safely, you'll pick Vivianne every time? No hesitation?"
The question hangs in the air.
I open my mouth. Close it. Because the truth is, I don't know. I'll choose Vivianne every time. Merlin, however, wants the Swan. That pendant represents everything he lost. Everything that was stolen from him.
But Vivianne?—
"Yes." The word comes out stronger than I feel. "Vivianne comes first. Always."
"And you?" Jenny's attention shifts to Merlin. "Can you make that same promise?"
For a long moment, Merlin remains silent. When he speaks, his voice is rough. Raw. "I've already lost everyone I loved for that pendant. I won't lose anyone else."
It's not exactly a yes. But it's close enough.
Jenny studies us both. Measuring. Weighing. Finally, she nods. "Alright. But understand this—if you do anything that puts Vivianne or my team at risk, I will personally ensure you regret it. Are we clear?"
