Ares smiles. "It should."
Callum exhales and turns to look at me. "Keira, we're not discussing this because it's up for debate. We're discussing this because your life is in danger, and I don't trust anyone in this city right now."
"He's right," Ares says. "The last two hits were within fifteen blocks of your foundation office. The only reason you're not dead is because whoever's behind this isn't ready for you to be. Yet."
"Gee, thanks," I say.
"His name is Octavian Voinea," Enzo says. "He's a cousin to the Ionescu family, the ones who run Romania. They trust him with their lives. We've used him before for sensitive operations. Ex-special forces, Romanian military. Professional. The best there is." Enzo pauses and takes a sip of whatever he's drinking. "Doesn't flinch. Doesn't give a fuck who your family is. He protects what he's assigned. Period."
"He sounds good," Declan says. My own twin betraying me.
I shoot him a glance.
"With everything out on the table," Enzo continues, "the Ionescus want to expand their operations into the U.S. This could be a good test of the waters, see if the alliance is worth pursuing for all our families."
Callum nods. "I agree with Declan. It sounds like that's exactly the type of person we need."
"Wait," I say, shifting in my seat, anger rising. "If you're going to talk about me, I'm going to speak. I don't need anyone hiring me a foreign bodyguard. A babysitter."
"He's protection," Callum corrects. "Not a babysitter."
"Semantics," I say a little louder than I mean to. "You're telling me I can't handle myself. That I need some stranger to follow me around like I'm incompetent."
Declan leans toward me. "Keira—, please."
"Don't." I round on him. "Don't you dare take his side."
"I'm not taking sides." Declan's voice is careful. "But he's right. We're all targets, and you're the most exposed. You're going into Shadowharbor, for fuck’s sake."
"So I'll change things up."
"That's not enough," Callum says and looks at Enzo. “Send me his details so I can make the arrangements to have him come out as soon as he can," he says and looks at me. "You will cooperate."
The wordcooperateignites something in my chest, hot and furious.
I stand, my chair scraping across the floor. "You know, I was born into this family same as you. The only difference is I had to fight twice as hard to be heard, and now I don't even get that."
"Keira, you know that’s not true," Callum says, but I'm already moving.
"You're being controlling and making decisions about my life like I'm not standing right here, so fuck it, why stay?"
"This isn't about control. It's about keeping you alive. That’s the only thing me or Declan care about right now." Callum says.
"Is it?" I stop at the door and turn back. "Or is it about making sure the princess stays in her tower where she belongs, only coming out when you deem necessary?"
"Keira, no one's questioning your capability. But even the best fighters need backup," Declan says, his voice cutting through the tension.
I look at my brothers, then the screen, and finally back at Callum. "You all think you know what's best for me. What I need. But none of you ever ask what I want."
"Because what you want doesn't matter when you're dead." Callum's voice is cold, flat, final.
My throat tightens. I yank the door open and step into the hallway, letting it slam behind me.
The corridor is dim, lit only by the sconces that line the walls. My footsteps echo on the marble floor as I move, my hands shaking with the effort of not screaming. They don't get it. They never get it. I mean, I'm going to do my part in this, but of course, they want me wrapped in bubble wrap the whole time, hindering my abilities.
I'm not fragile. I'm not some delicate thing that needs to be sheltered from the storm. I was raised in the same house, fed the same lessons, taught the same rules. But because I'm a woman, because I'm their sister, I get the controlled glass cage instead of the crown.
Either way, let them send their Romanian. Let him try to leash me. I'll burn the leash before he ever touches the collar.
