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“Why? Everything is going beautifully.”

“You have no idea the pressure I’m under.” Her jaw tightens. “Garth wanted everything to be first-class, but he doesn’t realize how expensive it is to run that kind of event. You have to spend money to make money and—” She cuts off abruptly. “Anyway, I just need to make sure we bring in as much as possible or we’ll only be able to cover expenses instead of making a hefty donation to the charity.” With that, she turns on her heels and stalks in the opposite direction.

“What was that about?” Rage asks curiously.

“I don’t know.” I’m actually a little mystified because I haven’t seen Candy behave this way before. Normally, she’s cool, calm, and collected. “Maybe I should go talk to her, calm her down.”

“Sure. Go do your thing.” He kisses me. “I’ll be here not eating all the amazing food.”

“Don’t worry,” I purr, pressing myself against him. “I have something that’s virtually calorie-free for you to eat.”

I watch his blue eyes turn to liquid fire, and he yanks me against him again. “You really are trying to kill me tonight.”

“The best death imaginable.” I kiss him and then follow in the direction Candy went. It’s been hard to get a handle on her because she goes from complete diva to hard-working and focused to cheating on her boyfriend to worried about money.

Elliott didn’t seem interested or concerned about the fact that I saw her kissing another man and I guess he has a point—after tomorrow, we don’t ever have to see any of them again. It’s not like they’re our friends.

Still, I’m invested in the event so if there’s anything I can do to make things go smoothly, I’d like to try. Even if it means sucking it up with Candy.

There’s a small office not far from the ballroom that we’ve been using as a staging area, and I see light coming from a crack in the door. I’m just about to push it open when I hear voices. Candy’s. And a man.

“…ess protection.”

I freeze.

“What?” Candy sounds confused.

“You have to trust me and do what I say. I’ve been working on this for a year.” This is Garth’s voice.

“What does that have to do with the event?”

A laugh that sounds menacing and still, I can’t place the voice because it’s so low. “Nothing and everything. She cost me everything when she hacked my online business. Now I want to repay the favor. Can you just keep me apprised of what she’s doing and where she’s going? I’ve been working on her for months and fucking Rage had to get involved and ruin it. But now I have a plan. I just need two more days.”

I clamp a hand over my mouth and slowly start to back away.

It’s impossible to know definitively if they’re talking about me, but who else is in witness protection that’s involved with Rage? We don’t have any clients that are in WITSEC, so that leaves me.

Which means I was right all along.

All those weird things that have happened.

Everything that made my gut scream—someone has found me. I’m not a hundred percent sure but I will be. I make my way back to the main room but then skirt around the edges until I get to a small anteroom. And I call the one person who, even if he doesn’t believe me, will at least try to help.

It’s not that I don’t trust Elliott—I do. But I only heard part of a fragmented conversation, and I don’t want to distract him if it’s nothing. Once I have proof, then I’ll tell him. For now, I have to figure out if this was about me. Unfortunately, without access to my laptop and a secure internet connection, I can’t do it. Besides, it’s better if someone else takes the lead.

“Luna.” Daniil answers on the first ring even though it’s a Friday night and he’s supposed to be home, relaxing with his family. “Everything okay?”

“I need a favor,” I say in what probably sounds like a breathy voice but it’s actually me trying not to hyperventilate.

“Of course.”

“Back in Limaj, the Royal Protectors…you have a cyber expert on that team, right?” Daniil is technically one of them even though he’s no longer actively in the role.

“Jonas. Yes.”

“I know it’s the middle of the night in Limaj, and this is a big ask, but I need you to send him the footage from the security cameras in my apartment. I need him to go through them to determine whether or not the feed has been hacked and/or altered. It’s very important.”

“All right. Do you want him to discuss his findings with me or to call you directly?”