Page 76 of Dagger’s Shield

“Then, plan with me.” She dragged the chair out and sat. “What is our goal for the night?”

“We identify him, we map him, and we collect as much information as possible. We watch who he speaks to, who he avoids, and how your father and Rémy behave around him. If we can manage it, a photograph of him with each of them. Another with the three of them would be very desirable. Past that, we do nothing that gives him a reason to look at either of us twice.”

“He will look at us twice, Dagger. My father intends to announce our engagement in front of him.”

“We’re ready, Givre. We’ve got these covers down.” I winked, and she grinned. “Men like Géraud don’t avoid people like us, Maëlle. They hire us.”

“There’s one thing I haven’t said out loud, but I need to.” I could tell by the tone of her voice what she was about to say.

“Go ahead.”

“If he knew I’d be there.”

She didn’t need to elaborate for me to know what she meant. “I’ve thought about it.”

“Tell me what you concluded.”

“If Géraud knew you were connected to Minerva, you’d never have left hospital. He had no reason to let you live. Whatever he knows, it isn’t that.”

Her shoulders dropped. “I reached the same conclusion. I’m glad you did too.”

“Next, we need to brief the team.”

“We’ll have to figure out a way to leave without Marthe pitching a fit,” she warned.

I laughed. “I’ve got an idea.”

“Does it involve sneaking out in the middle of the night again?” She wriggled her brows.

I stepped closer and cupped her cheek. “We’ll have errands to run for the party—no one will question the trip, and if we happen to have some extra time, I wouldn’t be opposed to making good use of it.”

“Will you send a message to Blackjack and Beacon, or should I?” she asked.

“I will,” I said as I typed. Need a secure brief today. “Now, the next thing we need to discuss…”

Maëlle scowled. “I don’t like the sound of this.”

“There’s one more conversation I need to have today. Mine, with your father.”

“Why?” she snapped.

“Your argument with him⁠—”

“Do you intend to apologize on my behalf?”

“I intend to smooth the waters between the two of you.”

She stepped away and folded her arms. “He doesn’t deserve an apology from me.”

“And he isn’t getting one. Making him think I intend to offer an olive branch will be what gets me in the door. What I say once I’m inside is about your mother.”

“He won’t hear it.”

I shook my head. “He heard you. He isn’t capable of accepting it yet.”

She sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re giving him too much credit.”

“We want your father focused on hosting his important guest. To introduce you as the daughter he adores versus the one he’s angry with.”