"Then don't slip."
"It's going to be exhausting."
"Yeah." He starts the engine but doesn't pull out yet. "But you held the board. You still run your company. Armand's in federal custody. That threat's contained."
I close my eyes. "But Julien's killer is still out there."
"Yeah."
The silence stretches between us.
"The protection detail continues," I say.
"It does." His voice is flat. "Until we find who killed Julien."
I open my eyes, turn to look at him. He's watching me with that intensity that makes my pulse spike.
"But you should know something," he says. "The detail's professional. What I want from you isn't."
My breath catches. "Luc?—"
"Not asking for an answer now. You just fought for your company. But you should know where I stand." He shifts the SUV into gear. "Let's get you home."
He pulls out of the parking garage, heading toward the estate. I lean back in my seat. Patricia's warning echoes in myhead—constant scrutiny, no margin for error, board members waiting for me to slip.
And underneath it all, the knowledge that Julien's killer is still out there. Still a threat.
The protection detail continues, Luc stays—but not just because of the job.
My phone buzzes. Text from Henry:
You did it. Get some rest. We'll strategize tomorrow.
Luc's hand finds mine in the dark. I turn my palm up, threading our fingers together. Julien's killer is still out there. The board is fractured. The danger hasn't ended.
18
LUC
My phone wakes me just after dawn. It's Remy. I reach for it before the second ring, careful not to wake Simone curled against my side.
"Talk to me."
"We got more." His voice carries that edge he gets when a case breaks wider. "Cyber team found a second layer of encrypted communications on Armand's server. Different encryption protocol, separate partition. We've been working on it since the raids. Just cracked it an hour ago."
I'm out of bed and pulling on jeans before he finishes the sentence. "What's in them?"
"Direct messages between Armand and an unknown party. Dated the same day as your kidnapping, after Julien grabbed you. You need to see this."
"On my way."
Simone stirs, and she opens her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Breakthrough on the case. Stay here until I get back." I lean down, press a kiss to her forehead. "Derek will be outside. Don't leave the guest house."
"Yes, Sir."
The automatic submission steadies us both. I head out, and I text Derek to maintain position while I'm at the operations center.
