Sage was already spinning the laptop toward him. “So,” he announced. “Here’s what we’ve got.”
Viper stepped in closer, one shoulder brushing Titus’s—who didn’t move away.
Sage tapped the screen. “So, remember Hale’s little party invite from last night?”
A new window opened—movement logs, time-stamped.
“0500 this morning,” Sage continued. “He made three encrypted calls, all routed through a shell company we’ve been tracking. Ten minutes later, a private message went out confirming tonight’s event is definitely high-profile.”
Memphis leaned in. “Security?”
“Thick,” Sage said. “Private detail, metal detectors on the main floor, but—” he flipped to another screen “—the executive level upstairs is totally dark. No cameras. No floor plan.” His gaze flicked to Titus. “And Hale tagged your name to the access list for that floor.”
Viper’s jaw ticked. “Alone?”
“No.” Sage pointed at a line of text. “He specifically noted: ‘Titus Harrington and fiancé.’”
Syx made a low sound. “That’s deliberate.”
“Yeah, the rest of us beautiful people will have to stay downstairs,” Law said, his eyes on Sage.
Vale’s eyes narrowed on Titus. “I don’t like you going up there alone.”
“He won’t be alone,” Viper rasped, gaze cutting to Vale. His irritation must’ve bled through, because Memphis and Law both tensed—and Vale felt it, that much was clear.
He could end this here, clean and final—if he was willing to pull his family into it. He wasn’t.
Vale’s jaw set. His gaze didn’t drop.
Viper wanted to order the man to back the hell off, but he kept his cool, letting the moment sink in. When Vale finally looked away, Viper turned back to the screen.
“What else?” he growled at Sage.
This was Titus’s op, and the quick flash of irritation in his eyes said he hadn’t missed him stepping in.
Not that hewouldtake over—but Vale was getting on his nerves, and asking questions was a better option than putting the guy through a wall.
Sage scrolled. “Financial activity spiked at 0413. Someone above Hale greenlit funds—his calls line up as a direct response.”
Titus breathed out slowly. “So, Hale called the head guy.”
“Yup,” Sage said. “We don’t have the name yet. The call routed through a ghost node—no registered owner, no metadata.”
Rhett’s phone buzzed once. He checked it, jaw tightening. “Recall order.” His gaze flicked to Viper—waiting. Viper gave a single nod, and Rhett was already reaching for his jacket.
“Figures,” Memphis muttered.
Law didn’t comment—just tracked Rhett’s movement like it mattered.
Once the door closed, the room settled, and Viper turned back to Sage.
“So, we’re walking into this party blind and don’t know a damn thing about the top-tier threat.”
“Pretty much.” Sage offered a cheerfully grim shrug. “Also, the dress code is ridiculous, just saying.”
Viper ignored that.
Titus didn’t. “We’re going,” he said, voice low, flat—taking the reins back like he’d never let go.
