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“What about Sea Whisper?” Storm asked.

“It will remain at the Coast Guard dock. No one goes aboard without an escort.”

Storm didn’t like it.

I saw that immediately.

Sea Whisper wasn’t simply her yacht. It was her home, her livelihood, and the place where she believed she could protect her family.

Ward rested his hand against her back.

She looked at him.

Whatever passed between them didn’t require words.

Storm nodded.

“Okay.”

Keating looked toward Ward.

“I’d like a list of every member of your team currently on the island, including their location and weapons.”

“You’ll have it within the hour.”

“Your men coordinate with Lieutenant Harper. No one acts independently.”

“They won’t.”

I believed Ward.

Keating studied him for another moment before facing me.

“That includes you.”

“I understand.”

“You’re a consultant and a witness, Mr. Allen. You are not part of the Coast Guard investigative team.”

“I know.”

Calle looked at me.

She expected me to be angry.

A few years ago, I might’ve been.

I had spent most of my adult life running toward danger while someone else was still deciding what to do about it.

But Commander Keating wasn’t asking me to ignore a threat.

He was establishing who had authority.

Who made decisions.

Who answered if those decisions went wrong.

That was how a real operation worked.