The drive back to the extension was silent, the small, spiteful box sitting on the aft seat like a third passenger. The sun- drenched auditoriums felt a world down, replaced by the climate- controlled sterility of the auto, the megacity ending in around them like flume walls.
Once inside their home, Marcus did n't pause. He placed the box on his office in his study, not as a jewel, but as substantiation. also he turned to her, his expression grave.
" We need to talk about security, " he said. There was no asking, no softening the blow. The time for that was over.
Lily jounced, her arms still wrapped tightly around her middle. " Okay. "
He led her to the lounge, sitting near, his body angled toward hers, his elbows on his knees. " Charles is using all his connections. The digital trail for the dispatch is a dead end — waiters routed through multiple countries, a ghost. The courier was a sprat from Queens who demanded quick cash; he was given the package and an address at a drop point. He's been canvassed . He knows nothing. "
Lily heeded, the professional, strategic part of her brain wrestling with the alarmed woman
. " So we've nothing. "
" We've a pattern, " Marcus corrected. " The knowledge that this person is original, has bigwig knowledge of our original contract, has coffers to cover their tracks, and is raising. They're intelligent, patient, and tête-à-tête invested. " He broke, choosing his coming words precisely. " I've formerly increased security at the structure. Discrete, but present. I'd like to assign a particular security detail to you. "
The words hung in the air. A detail. A sentry. It sounded like commodity from one of his action pictures, not her life.
" Marcus, I I've a business. I meet with guests. I ca n't have some large man in a black suit brewing over me while I bandy centerpieces. "
" It does n't have to be like that, " he said, his voice gentle but firm. " It can be low- profile. Someone who drives you, who acts as an adjunct. Someone trained to assess pitfalls without drawing attention. Please, Lily. I need to know you're safe. I can not serve if I'm upset about you every second you're out of my sight. "
The raw admission, the vulnerability beneath the command, undid her resistance. He was n't being controlling; he was being defensive. He was erecting an magazine around her because his own heart was exposed.
" Okay, " she rumored. " Okay. For you. "
He let out a breath he sounded to have been holding and pulled her to him, kissing her hair. " Thank you. "
For the coming hour, they talked logistics. It was a crazy, surreal discussion. They bandied safe apartments( the extension had one, a fact that now sounded chillingly visionary), translated communication apps, and protocols for unanticipated packages.
It was during this that Lily had a study. " The guest list, " she said suddenly. " For the renewal. "
Marcus's eyes narrowed, incontinently following her train of study. " You suppose it's someone on the list. "
" Who differently would have that specific knowledge? Who differently would be ' tête-à-tête invested'? It has to be someone who was there at the morning, who knew the terms. Someone who feels slighted by our happiness. " The idea was horrible. It meant the adversary was a friend. A guest.
Marcus stood and went to his office, pulling up the digital guest list on his computer. They scrolled through the names together. Board members, old family musketeers, business associates, her small circle, his.
Every name suddenly looked suspicious. Charles? unbelievable. Sarah? insolvable. An old business rival? A scornedex-lover of Marcus's she'd noway known about? The possibilities were a nest of serpents.
" We ca n't cancel, " Lily said, echoing his earlier conviction, though her voice shook. " But we can be smart. "
" We'll be, " Marcus pledged, his cutlet swimming over the mouse. " We'll be. " He began to methodically add a small, red flag next to a sprinkle of names — people with known connections to Evelyn Mercer, people who had expressed displeasure with his leadership, people from his history whose commitment were questionable.
The guest list was no longer a festivity of their union. It had come a suspect board. Their beautiful, joyous party was now also a trap, and they were the bait.
latterly that night, lying in bed, Lily could n't sleep. She heeded to Marcus's indeed breathing, her mind contending through names and faces. The fear was a cold gravestone in her gut, but beside it burned a new emotion wrathfulness. A fierce, defensive wrathfulness.
Whoever this was, they were n't just hanging her. They were hanging him. They were hanging the fragile, beautiful happiness he'd fought so hard to make, the peace he so merited.
She turned onto her side, facing him. In the dim light, she could see the faint lines of stress on his face indeed in sleep. She reached out, gently smoothing his brow.
He stirred, his eyes fluttering open. " Lily? You should sleep. "
" I'm not going to let them win, Marcus, " she rumored, her voice fierce in the darkness. " I'm not going to let them steal this from you. From us. "
He was silent for a moment, also his hand set up hers in the wastes. He brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
" I know, " he said simply. And in those two words, she heard his absolute faith in her. They were no longer just a man guarding his woman
. They were mates, standing back- to- reverse, preparing for a siege. The magazine was n't just made of security details and safe apar
tments. It was forged in their participated resoluteness. We