“I figured that out.”
“Which means this is escalation. He's moving from hidden threat to open warfare.” Luka's hands tightened on the wheel. “The question is why now.”
“We were getting close,” Dmitri said. “The warehouse, the phone, the surveillance footage. Maybe he decided to control the reveal.”
“Or he wants us focused on him specifically,” I said. “Looking at Rafael instead of whatever else is happening.”
“You think there's more?” Dmitri asked.
“I think Rafael's too smart to be working alone and too connected. He's had years to build this. One man can't sustain that without support.”
Luka went very still. “We need to get back to the house. I'll explain everything there.”
“Explain what?”
“How I know Rafael Varela.” His voice had gone flat and empty. “And why this is my fault.”
“Luka—” Dmitri started.
“Not now. When we're back, when everyone can hear it.” Luka's jaw was tight. “This conversation happens once, and it happens with Declan present. He deserves to know what his trust was used for.”
We drove the rest of the way in silence.
We pulled into the neighborhood to find security already repositioned, at least six men around the house, armed and alert. I got out of the SUV with my whole body aching and my ribs screaming with every breath.
The front door opened and Declan stood in the doorway. He took one look at me and his expression shifted from worried to terrified.
“Troy.” He crossed the distance between us, hands going to my face, gentle despite the obvious panic. “What happened?”
“It's Rafael. He's behind everything, the attacks, all of it.”
Declan went very still. “What?”
“It's been him the whole time. Your friend. Your business partner. He's been using that access to hunt us.”
The color drained from Declan's face. “That's not possible.”
“I saw him.”
“You're sure?”
“I'm sure.” I grabbed his hands and held on.
Luka stepped forward and extended his hand. Declan looked at him, at the hand, and shook it with a brief and formal grip.
Declan pulled his hands away from both of us and stepped back, his expression shuttered. “I need to make some calls. People need to be warned.”
He walked back toward the house like he was on autopilot.
I started to follow. Luka caught my arm.
“Let him process,” Luka said quietly. “This is a betrayal that cuts deep. He needs time.”
“We don't have time.”
“We have enough for him to make calls.” Luka pulled me toward the house. “Come inside. You need medical attention. Then we talk.”
Inside, Ash appeared with the first aid kit and started working on my face without asking, cleaning the blood, thensetting my nose with a sharp movement that made stars explode behind my eyes.
