"I have work to do," she continued, her voice steady but firm. "And if you come in with me, everyone's going to know something's wrong."
She wasn't wrong.
I'd stick out in that place like a grenade in a gallery. All hard edges and controlled violence, tracking exits and threats while artists talked about light and composition.
Still, every instinct I had screamed at me to follow her inside. To stand between her and whatever danger might be waiting. To not let her out of my sight.
But she was already looking at me with that expression—the one that saidI'm choosing this, don't take it from me.
I exhaled slowly. "I'll be in the area."
"Thank you."
She leaned in and kissed me—soft, lingering, the kind of kiss that felt like a promise and a goodbye all at once.
When she pulled away, I had to physically stop myself from dragging her back into the car. From telling Ellsworth to drive us straight back to The Sanctuary and lock the fucking doors.
Get a grip, Ward.
She stepped out onto the sidewalk, shouldered her camera, and walked toward the entrance without looking back.
I watched until she disappeared inside.
Then I turned to Ellsworth.
"What do you think?" I asked.
He met my eyes in the rearview mirror, his expression calm, unreadable.
"We'll find him soon, sir," he said. "Our resources are more than acceptable."
Translation:We have reach. Money. Access to systems and surveillance most people don't know exist. Stop worrying.
The English had a way of playing things down. Understated to the point of absurdity. But when they wanted to be blunt, they didn't fuck around.
"How soon?" I pressed.
"Days. Hours, if we're fortunate."
I nodded, jaw tight.
"I'll stay in the area," I said. "Keep an eye on things."
Ellsworth inclined his head slightly. "Very good, sir. I'll return to The Sanctuary and continue coordinating."
He paused, then added, "Would you like any men to remain here with you? For additional coverage?"
I almost said yes.
But then I thought about Mila's apartment. The violated space. The torn photographs. The message Merrick had left like a knife in the dark.
"Send them to her place instead," I said. "Scrub it down. Add security. Subtle. Nothing she'll notice."
Ellsworth's mouth twitched—approval, maybe. Or respect.
"Consider it done, sir."
He drove off, the car disappearing into traffic with the same quiet efficiency it had arrived with.
