Page 290 of Scars of Fate

Minser looked toward the image of Camille.

“I don’t need to kill either of you to make my point.”

“Stop!”

Elise struggled against her restraints.

“Please.”

The masked operative pulled back the hammer.

Lucas’s hand closed around the edge of the terminal.

His knuckles turned white.

I saw what it cost him not to threaten.

Not to shout.

Not to promise violence he couldn’t deliver from thousands of miles away.

I moved closer to the screen.

“Elise doesn’t know where we are. She can’t bring us to you.”

“She can authorize access.”

“No, she can’t.”

His expression changed.

I continued before he could speak.

“Banque Laurent removed her authority the moment she was reported missing. That’s why you took the managing director and chief security officer. But neither of them can override a protected joint account without both account holders present.”

Minser’s eyes narrowed.

I was guessing.

Mostly.

He didn’t know that.

“You need Lucas and me alive,” I said. “You need us cooperative. If your man harms Elise or Camille, you’ll get neither.”

Minser studied me.

Behind the terminal, Hawk raised one finger.

One minute.

I needed to keep Minser talking.

“What is inside the dispersal unit?”

“You already know.”

“I know what Kane told you. But do you know what he intends to do after you unlock Fate?”