Terrence nods once. “I know the kind.”
“I already neutralized one threat, but this family doesn’t fold. They wait, reframe the problem, strike when no one’s looking. I’m not ready to leave her exposed.”
Terrence gives a low whistle, shaking his head. “Didn’t think I’d live to see the day Bastien Montclaire goes soft over a woman.”
“I’m not going soft.” I glance at him, deadpan. “And she’s not just any woman.”
That earns a snort and a grin that says he’s enjoying this way toomuch. “You’ve walked away from every woman I’ve ever seen you with. No repeats. Half the time, you don’t even stay till sunrise.”
“All true,” I say, not bothering to soften it.
“So why her? Why now?”
I pause, letting the silence sit before I answer. “Because she has my attention. And that doesn’t happen.”
Terrence studies me, expression unflinching. “She's the one?”
The words hang there, and I don’t answer right away. My jaw tightens before I let out the truth. “Not surethe oneexists for me, man. But she’s the closest I’ve ever come.”
His grin fades a little. “I hope it works out for you. It would be nice to have someone you could come home to.”
His words hit harder than they should.
I don’t answer right away. I just lean forward, weighing the gravity of something I never let surface.
I’ve never needed anyone before. I’ve never wanted anyone. But she’s changed that.
And she doesn’t even know it.
“If something happens to her while I’m gone, there’s no coming back from it.”
No bravado. Just a fact.
An almost-smile tugs at Terrence’s mouth. It’s something softer than sarcasm, more reflective than either of us usually allows. “She must be something.”
“She is,” I say without hesitation. “And before you ask… no, you can’t meet her.”
“Okay. I hear you.”
Terrence leans forward, forearms braced on his knees. “I’m not trying to rush you, but I need your answer soon. This woman and her son don’t have a lot of time.”
His expression tells me exactly how bad it is. “Understood. I’ll let you know soon.”
I can tell that he wants to push harder, but he doesn’t. He knows me too well.
“I’ll keep an eye on things here. If nothing escalates, I’ll go with you. If it does, then you’re going to have to find another set of hands.”
Terrence nods. “Fair enough. But don’t wait too long. You’ve seen what happens when tomorrow comes too late.”
I nod, my thoughts already splitting in two directions.
Laurette’s safety.
The woman and her child.
And in the dead center of it all—me, deciding which fire to put out first.
The door clicks shutbehind me, swallowed by the hush of the house. The air smells like her—cherry blossom and vanilla, warm and sweet, wrapped in the ghost of steam from her shower.
