Chapter 5
“What kind of people?” I asked, stopping mid-stride.
“The Calloway family,” Rourke said. “Small transfers, spread out over eighteen months, disguised as consulting fees.”
My blood turned cold. “The Calloways have wanted a foothold in my organization for years.”
“It gets worse,” Rourke continued. “One of the transfers happened three days ago. The same week she staged that DNA confession.”
Isabella watched my face shift from shock to something far more dangerous.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Camille wasn’t just protecting a secret,” I said slowly. “She may have been setting me up. A public scandal, a fractured engagement, a distracted, humiliated man—easy prey for rivals looking for an opening.”
“You think the Calloways orchestrated this?” Isabella asked.
“I think Camille gave them exactly what they needed,” I said. “A moment when my guard was down.”
Rourke’s voice came through again, urgent now. “Boss, there’s more. Security flagged unfamiliar vehicles circling the estate for the last hour. We think they’re testing our response time.”
“Get everyone on high alert,” I said. “And find out if Camille is still at her penthouse. I want her watched, not warned.”
I ended the call and turned to Isabella, whose protective instincts had visibly sharpened the moment danger entered the conversation.
“Lily,” she said immediately. “If the Calloways know about the scandal, know about Camille, could they know about Lily too?”
The thought hit me like ice water. “We need to get to her right now.”
We drove faster than was probably safe, both of us silent, both of us thinking the same terrifying thought.
When we reached the neighbor’s apartment, relief flooded through me at the sight of Lily sitting safely at the kitchen table, coloring quietly, unaware of the storm swirling around her existence.
“Mom!” she said brightly, then noticed our tense expressions. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, sweetheart,” Isabella said, forcing calm into her voice. “We just missed you.”
I knelt down to Lily’s level, something I hadn’t done for any child in longer than I could remember.
“Lily,” I said gently, “how would you feel about coming somewhere safe for a little while? Somewhere with a lot of very good people who can keep you and your mom protected?”
Lily studied me with the same fearless curiosity from the park. “Are you protecting us because you’re my dad now?”
The question landed with unexpected force.
“Yes,” I said, my voice thick. “Because I’m your dad now, and nothing is more important to me than keeping you safe.”
Lily’s small hand slipped into mine without hesitation, trust given so easily it nearly broke me all over again.
We moved quickly after that, Rourke’s men arriving to escort Isabella and Lily to the estate under heavy protection, while I stayed behind to coordinate with security, my mind racing through every possible angle the Calloways might exploit.
Hours later, as night fell over the city, Rourke delivered the update I’d been dreading.
“Boss, we intercepted a message,” he said grimly. “The Calloways aren’t just testing your defenses. They’re planning to use tonight, while everything’s still chaotic, to make their move.”
“Where?” I asked.
“Your estate,” Rourke said. “Where Isabella and Lily just arrived.”
