"Take your time. Vet them thoroughly. We can't afford another mole."
After Stefan left, I went looking for Julian.
I found him in our apartment. He'd gone straight there after the investor meeting ended. Was sitting on the couch with his laptop, probably following news coverage of FBI investigations or analyzing our business ventures.
He looked up when I walked in. "Is it done?"
"It's done. We found the mole."
Relief flooded his face. "Who was it?"
"Jake Byrne. Been feeding information to the FBI for months. Coerced through threats against his wife."
Julian set aside his laptop. "What happened to him?"
"I let him go."
Surprise. Complete surprise. "You what?"
"I gave him forty-eight hours to leave the city. Told him if he ever comes back, if he ever contacts the FBI again, I'll kill him. But for now—he's alive. Free to start over somewhere else."
Julian stared at me. Processing. Then he smiled. Soft and proud and full of love.
"You showed mercy."
"I did. Because he was coerced. Because he was protecting someone he loved. Because—because I thought about what you would want me to do. What kind of person you'd want me to be."
Julian moved across the couch. Pulled me close. Kissed me thoroughly.
"I'm proud of you," he said against my mouth. "Proud that you chose mercy. Proud that you thought about consequences beyond just eliminating a threat. Proud that you're changing."
"You're changing me. Making me better. More human."
"Is that good?"
"It's the best thing. You make me question procedures I always accepted. Make me think about nuance and circumstances. Make me want to be the kind of person who deserves your love."
"You already deserve it. But I love watching you grow anyway." Julian pulled back to look at me. "What did the partners say?"
"Matteo was angry. Wanted Jake dead. Sandro agreed with my decision strategically. Luca thought it showed sophistication. Stefan was hurt by the betrayal but understood."
"And you? How do you feel about it?"
"Certain. I made the right choice. Jake wasn't evil. Just desperate. He deserved mercy." I touched Julian's face. "But don't mistake mercy for weakness. I showed Jake mercy because the situation warranted it. But there are people who won't get that consideration. People who've earned violence instead."
"Like Dante."
It wasn't a question. Julian knew. Understood.
"Like Dante. If he ever comes for you. If he ever touches you again. If he ever does anything beyond sending threatening cards—there won't be mercy. I'll kill him. Slowly. Make him suffer. Make sure he understands exactly what he took from you and what he'll never have."
Julian kissed me again. "I know. I don't expect you to show mercy to predators. Just to people who deserve second chances. The fact that you can distinguish between them—that's what matters."
We sat together on the couch. Both processing the day. The trap. The capture. The mercy.
"We should celebrate," Julian said after a while. "The mole's gone. The FBI's case just got weaker. We've got a strategic win. That's worth celebrating."
"How do you want to celebrate?"
