Tamsin Beck.
My chest tightens.
"Explain," I say.
Kael's jaw tenses.
"We have a problem," he says. "A significant one."
I do not respond.
I just stare at the holographic display, watching as the files reorganize themselves into a coherent timeline.
Kael continues.
"Three weeks ago, we flagged unusual activity from a rival firm—Sentinel Dynamics. They have been circling our government defense contracts for the past eighteen months, trying to find leverage to undercut our bids."
I know this already.
Sentinel Dynamics is a mid-tier security conglomerate with delusions of grandeur. They lack the infrastructure to competewith Obsidian Aegis on a technical level, so they rely on corporate espionage and predatory business practices.
They are irritating.
But not dangerous.
Or so I thought.
"They have escalated," Kael says. "Significantly."
He gestures to the display. The files shift, revealing a new layer of data.
"Two weeks ago, Sentinel Dynamics initiated a forensic audit of everyone in your inner circle. They were looking for vulnerabilities. Weak points. Anything they could exploit."
My claws extend slightly.
"And?"
Kael's expression darkens.
"They found one."
He pulls up a financial transaction log.
My transaction log.
Specifically: the massive, sudden influx of funds I transferred to Apex Wellness Clinic three weeks ago to secure Tamsin's upgraded contract.
The payment that wiped out her back-rent.
The payment that ensured she would never have to choose between groceries and medical bills again.
The payment that I made without hesitation because the thought of her suffering was intolerable.
"They tracked the funds," Kael says quietly. "Straight to Tamsin Beck."
The temperature in the room drops.
And I mean that literally.
