I smoothed my tie, allowing him all the time he needed.
The meeting wouldn’t last long.
He was visibly shaken when he handed my phone back. I took it from his trembling fingers.
“You were once a human rights lawyer,” I murmured, slipping the phone into the inner pocket of my suit jacket.
The audacity of these people was astonishing.
“International and criminal law,” I added softly.
He covered his eyes with one hand. I doubted there was any real remorse behind the gesture.
“What do you want?” he whispered, pitiful at last as his hand fell away.
His shoulders sagged. A fine sheen of sweat gathered along his hairline.
“You currently hold eleven contracts for the national digital ID programme,” I said evenly.“One of those will be terminated to make room for my company.”
He opened his mouth to protest.
I shut him down without raising my voice.
“You’ll find Liam Brannigan firmly on your side,” I said, rising to my feet.
When I turned toward the door, the image of a broken man lingered behind me—folded inward, diminished by the weight of his own compromises.
“I hear you’ve found someone who can tolerate you, Mr Prothero,” he said suddenly.
I didn’t dignify it with a response.
The message was clear.
I had a weakness.
A pressure point of my own.
Fenrir’s low growl followed me all the way to the car.
Chapter 42
Lielit
When he messaged me to be home by four p.m., I didn’t respond.
He called. I ignored it.
Then he sent his goon.
The man handed me his phone without looking at me, his gaze fixed on the wall behind my head.
Anji had clocked him all week and teased the poor bastard mercilessly every time she went in or out of the building. So when she wandered over and waved her hand in front of his face, he didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Didn’t acknowledge her.
“Just blink twice for help,” she whispered, leaning in close.
I put the phone to my ear and walked away from the pair.
“Yes, my liege,” I said dryly.
