"Fine."
"That's what you always say." A pause. "You seem different lately. Good different. But different."
"People keep telling me that."
"Because it's true." He leaned back. "I'm glad for you. Whatever's going on in your life, it seems to be working."
I waited. There was always more with Ronan.
"The Langford investigators came by again yesterday," he said. "While you were out."
"I heard."
"They're getting frustrated. Running out of leads." He paused. "The family's offering more money now. Six hundred thousand for information."
"Good for them."
Ronan was quiet for a moment.
"You know," he said slowly, "I've been thinking about that day. The wedding. How you personally ran the search, checked every corridor yourself."
"That's my job."
"It is." He nodded. "You're thorough. Professional. If anyone was going to find something, it would have been you."
The words hung in the air. Not an accusation. Not even a question. Just an observation.
I could let it go. Change the subject. Walk away.
But Tobias had already met with Tristan and started reaching out to his family. The secret wouldn't stay secret forever.
And Ronan deserved better than lies.
"If I told you something," I said carefully, "something that could end my career, maybe get me arrested, would you keep it to yourself?"
Ronan didn't blink. "Yes."
"Even with six hundred thousand on the table?"
"I don't care about money." His voice was steady. "I care about the people I work with. You've had my back for six years. That means something."
I looked at him. Calm. Patient. Waiting.
This was a risk. The biggest risk I'd taken since hiding Tobias in that storage closet. My career, my reputation, everything I'd built—all of it riding on whether I could trust this man.
But I was tired of carrying it alone.
"I found him," I said. "That day. In the service corridor."
Ronan's expression didn't change.
"He was scared. Shaking. Begging me not to send him back." I took a breath. "So I didn't. I helped him get out. Took him to my place. He's been there ever since."
Silence. The hum of the computer. The distant sound of the hotel lobby.
"The voice Cedric heard," Ronan said finally.
"Yes."
