"Yes." No point in denying it. "This stopped being just a protection detail at Dominion. The moment I felt you let go for real."
"I feel it too." Her voice drops. "But I don't know how. Trusting someone beyond just safety. Letting someone matter outside a scene."
"Neither do I." I step closer. "But we'll figure it out, if there's anything to figure out. First, though, we need to destroy your uncle and keep you alive."
She reaches up, cups my face in her hands. "You walked into a trap for me. Got drugged, restrained, nearly killed. And you're standing here telling me we'll figure this out like it's inevitable."
"It is inevitable." I cover her hands with mine. "You're mine, Simone. Not just for the scene. Not just for the protection detail. Mine. And I don't lose what's mine."
The certainty in my voice seems to settle something in her. She leans forward, presses her forehead against my chest. I wrap my arms around her, hold her as she begins to process everything.
My phone buzzes again. Remy.
Broussard wants to interview Simone officially. Tomorrow afternoon. NOPD building. He's treating this as attempted murder of you + Julien's execution + conspiracy. Needs her statement about the stalking, the surveillance, everything.
I show Simone the screen. She reads it, and I watch her process what this means.
"Official statement," she says quietly. "On the record. Everything about Dominion, the surveillance, the threats." She pauses. "Does Broussard think I'm a suspect?"
"No. You were with Derek when Julien was executed. Timeline clears you completely. This is about building the case against whoever paid Julien and then had him killed."
"Once I give that statement, it becomes part of the investigation record. Discovery in any criminal case. Public record eventually."
"Which means Armand will know exactly what evidence we have against him." I move closer. "But it also means we're building a prosecutable case. Andy's good—he won't let this go."
She's silent for a long moment. Then she straightens, and I watch the CEO mask slide back into place. Shoulders back, spine straight, expression controlled.
"Not till after I meet the board." Her voice is steady. Certain. "I'll tell the board what Armand did first. Then I'll give NOPD everything they need to build their case."
She pulls back, looks up at me. "And after that?"
"After that, you go back to running your company. I go back to running security operations. And we figure out what this is between us without someone trying to kill you."
"You make it sound simple."
"It's not simple. But it's worth figuring out." I tilt her chin up. Force her to hold my gaze. "We figure this out. Not negotiable."
Her breath catches. For a moment I think she's going to cry, but instead she leans up and kisses me. Not tentative. Not questioning. Claiming me the way I've been claiming her.
I deepen the kiss. Let her feel exactly how much I want this. Want her. Not just the submission, not just the protection detail. Everything underneath. The woman who's been performing strength for years while terrified someone would see through it. The CEO who fights battles alone because she doesn't know how to trust anyone else.
When we break apart, we're both breathing hard.
"After the statement tomorrow," I tell her. "After we've given NOPD everything they need. We finish what we started at Dominion."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
She nods. Steps back. The CEO mask is still in place, but there's something softer underneath now. Trust starting to form.
My phone buzzes. Text from Andy.
Need to ask you about something. Call when you can. It's about what Julien said to you before the drug hit.
I stare at the message. Julien's words are fragmented in my memory, broken pieces through the chemical haze. But one phrase surfaces clearly:She'll finally see what real power exchange looks like.
He wasn't just talking about Simone. He was talking about proving something. Demonstrating something to someone else.
