The first to Marcus: “I need the security footage from tonight. All of it. Every angle.”
“Done. Looking for anything specific?”
“Someone who shouldn’t be there. Someone moving through our systems like they belong.”
“Julian.” Marcus’s voice carries concern I rarely hear. “What’s happening?”
“Damien’s in Los Angeles.”
Silence. Marcus recognizes the name. Everyone who’s worked for me long enough knows the name.
“I’ll double the security detail. And I’ll have eyes on Miss Gable within the hour.”
“Discrete. She can’t know.”
“Understood,” Marcus pauses. “What about the Bahamas? You want me on site?”
“Not yet. I can’t explain your presence to Poppy—she thinks you’re my driver, not my head of security.” I move to the window. “But I need you to coordinate with our security team at the resort. Use them as your ground assets while you run surveillance from LA.
“Full tactical suite? Facial recognition, threat assessment?”
“Everything. Patch into the resort’s security feeds the moment we land. If Damien shows his face anywhere on that property, I want to know before he takes his second step.”
“And if he makes a move?”
“Our team there is trained for situations like this, but be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
“Understood.”
The second call to Celeste: “You said you’d get me information.”
“It’s not ready yet. These things take time—”
“He’s here. He’s been watching me. Photographing me.”
A pause before a deep breath. “Where?”
“Restaurant in Los Feliz. He knew exactly where I’d be.”
“He has been watching. Longer than we thought.” Rustling in the background—Celeste moving, gathering things. “I’ll have everything by morning. Damien’s holdings, his aliases, anyone he’s been in contact with. But Julian—”
“What?”
“If he’s making himself known, it means he’s ready. Whatever he’s planning, he’s confident you can’t stop it.”
“Then I need to change the equation.”
“How?”
I look at the photograph. At Poppy’s profile, soft in the candlelight. At my own expression—unguarded, vulnerable.
Weak.
“I don’t know yet.”
The third call is the hardest.
“Council headquarters. State your name and authorization code.”
