Page 38 of The Hunter's Empire

"This is more organized than I expected." He says.

"Were you expecting incompetence?"

"I expected ambition without infrastructure." His eyes flick briefly toward me. "Instead I found both."

I ignore the strange satisfaction his approval sparks in me. "Why are you here?"

Domenico reaches into the inner pocket of his coat and places a black envelope on the table between us.

"No phones at the event." He says. "No external weapons beyond approved security personnel. Facial recognition at every entrance. Internal surveillance throughout the estate."

I glance down at the embossed crest pressed into the envelope. Keegan. My stomach tightens slightly.

Domenico watches me for a second before continuing. "Fergus Keegan is officially stepping down next month." He says. "They are hosting a private succession party at the family estate in Ireland."

His voice lowers slightly. "The grandson takes control that night."

"Darragh Keegan."

His gaze sharpens briefly in acknowledgment.

"Elites from half the world will be there."

I pick up the invitation slowly, studying it. The level of access this could provide is enormous. Also incredibly dangerous.

"Security?"

"Near impossible to breach externally." He says. "Which is why we are not breaching it."

I look up at him. "You already have access."

"I already have an invitation."

"How?"

Domenico’s mouth curves slightly. "That answer would make you nervous."

Which probably means the truth is worse than I imagined.

I set the invitation back down carefully. "And your plan?"

His eyes hold mine steadily. "You attend with me."

The words settle heavily between us. Not because the idea itself is surprising. Because I immediately understand what it requires. Public proximity. Physical familiarity. The appearance of trust around people trained to notice weakness and deception instantly.

"You want us to pose as a couple."

"I want us to survive the evening without attracting suspicion."

I lean back slightly in my chair. "You sound very confident we can convince people."

"We can."

The certainty in his voice is deeply irritating.

"And if I am not interested in pretending to be your date for an entire evening?"

Domenico’s gaze drifts over me slowly. "Then this operation becomes significantly more difficult."