“And?”
“He was calmer than expected. Said maybe Cal had a reason. Said we'd adjust protocols and prepare for potential breach.” I pulled my hand through my hair. “Then he said if it goes sideways, Cal's head is on the table. Not emotional. Not dramatic. Just policy.”
Troy nodded slowly. “Adrian thinks like a king. Not a lover. He'll protect Ravenswood first. Always. If Cal becomes liability that threatens the household, Adrian will remove him.”
“I know.”
“And you're sitting here instead of with Cal because you're trying to decide which side you're on when that moment comes.”
The words landed exactly where they were supposed to. In the place I'd been avoiding looking at directly.
“I can't choose between them,” I said. “Ravenswood is home. Adrian gave me purpose when I had nothing. Viktor, Noah, Luka—they're family. But Cal?—”
“Is the person you'd burn it all down for.” Troy finished. “Yeah. I know that feeling. And I know how it tears you apart when those loyalties conflict.”
“What did you do? When you had to choose?”
“I chose the person.” His expression went distant. “And I've been living with the consequences ever since. But I'd make the same choice again. Because some people are worth the cost.”
We sat in silence for a moment. Just two men carrying weights that didn't have good solutions.
“Thank you,” I said finally. “For the advice. For the honesty.”
“Don't thank me yet. You haven't made your choice.” Troy's mouth curved slightly. “But when you do, commit fully. Half measures get people killed.”
I left him there. Walked through Ravenswood's corridors with his words echoing in my head.You don't have to trust him to decide he's yours to protect.
The problem was I didn't trust the world around Cal either. Didn't trust that he'd see danger coming. Didn't trust that he'd ask for help before walking into traps.
Which meant I had to be the one watching. The one prepared to intervene when Cal's self-destructive tendencies inevitably led him somewhere deadly.
I grabbed my jacket. My phone. Checked the tracker I'd put on Cal's car two weeks ago during a moment of paranoia that suddenly felt justified.
He was moving. Three in the morning. Heading east toward Shoreditch.
Not Ravenswood. Not his flat. Somewhere neutral. Somewhere that felt wrong the moment I saw the location.
I followed.
The building wasold warehouse converted to office space. Legitimate businesses on lower floors. But the top two floors showed no lights. No activity. Just empty space perfect for meetings that required privacy.
Cal's car was parked three streets over. Hidden. He'd walked the rest of the way.
I parked further back. Approached on foot. Scanning for threats. For watchers. For the signs that suggested ambush instead of meeting.
The street was too quiet. No foot traffic despite pubs being nearby. No cars moving through. Like someone had cleared the area deliberately.
Wrong. Everything about this was wrong.
I circled the building. Found Cal entering through a side door. Moving with confidence that suggested he thought he was in control. That he'd planned for contingencies.
I found an entrance two doors down. Service access. Unlocked because someone wanted easy egress. I moved through corridors that smelled like dust and old machinery. Following the sounds of voices.
Cal's voice. “I'm here. Alone. Like you asked. So tell me about Lily. Tell me who Harrow was protecting.”
Another voice. Older. Amused. “You're very trusting for an investigator. Walking into buildings without backup. Without weapons. Without any guarantee you're walking out.”
“I have guarantees. I have insurance. People know where I am. If I don't check in, they come looking.”
