I don't remember crossing the room.
One second, I'm listening to Damien's report, and the next, I've got Sienna's wrist in my hand like my instincts bypassed rational thought.
Her skin is warm. Too warm.
I force my grip to loosen before i scare her, but i don't let go yet. Not when she looks pale. Not when her breath is unsteady. Not when the memory of that message "She can't hide from me" is still burning through my skull.
I should be cold right now. Strategic. Calculating.
Instead, I'm furious.
And afraid.
A combination i hates.
"Sienna," i say quietly, "come with me."
She nods without protesting, and that alone tells him how shaken she is.
I lead her down the hall and into my office, shutting the door behind us.
The moment the lock clicks, Sienna wraps her arms around herself, shoulders tight. I feel my chest twist in a way i can't control.
"You're safe in here," i says.
She lets out a shaky breath. "I know."
But she doesn't sound like she believes it.
I watch her for a moment really watch her.
The way she keeps pressing her lips together like she's trying not to tremble.
The way her eyes dart toward the door, then the window, then back to him.
He knows all this reminds her of her traumatic childhood.
I move closer.
"Sienna."
She looks up.
I don't touch her this time, not her arm, not her wrist. I force myself to grip the desk instead.
"I won't let anything happen to you," i say. "Not while you're under my roof."
Her voice is small. "That sounds like a promise."
"It is."
She looks away quickly, as if the weight of my words are too much.
A second later, Damien bursts in without knocking.
Cyrus turns on him like a storm.
"What did you find?"
Damien swallows hard. "Nothing security checked all the cameras. He seems to be more meticulous after you caught him."
Cyrus curses under his breath.
Sienna's eyes widen. "What about my parents?"
"I've sent someone i dont think they will back doen though" Damien says.
I step in front of her instinctively, blocking her from Damien's view like I'm shielding her from the information itself.
"What about the gunmen of yesterday? Have you caught any of them?" i ask.
"Not yet. We're running thermal scans. But…" Damien hesitates.
"But what?" Cyrus snaps.
Damien holds out a small silver object in an evidence bag.
"This was wedged under Mrs Vale's office."
Sienna steps forward, confused. "What is it?"
Cyrus takes the bag.
It's a micro-camera.
High tech.
Expensive.
He feels something dark uncoil inside him.
"They were watching her," Cyrus growls.
Sienna's hand covers her mouth.
Damien lowers his voice. "Sir… there's more."
Cyrus closes his eyes for one brief, murderous second. "Say it."
"We traced the camera model. It's custom-made. Triple-encrypted. Only sold through one vendor."
"Who?" Cyrus demands.
Damien looks at Sienna, then back at Cyrus with something like dread.
"Kai Louis."
The room goes silent.
Sienna stiffens.
So he has been watching her all this time without her knowledge.
How did he get into her office.
I hear her breath catch behind me, and that's all it takes.
My composure snaps like glass.
"That bastard..." i lunge for my phone, already dialling.
Sienna rushes forward. "Cyrus..."
"I'm calling him."
"Wait!"
I ignore her.
The phone rings. Once. Twice...
Sienna grabs his wrist.
I stop.
Not because she pulled him back.
Because she touched him.
Her eyes are wide, scared, and conflicted.
"Please," she whispers. "Don't escalate yet."
"Yet," i repeat, voice low.
She swallows. "Just—let me think. I need to understand why he would..."
"No," i cut in sharply. "You don't need to understand anything. You need to be safe."
Her breath shakes.
"Cyrus…"
She's so close now that i can feel the warmth of her body, see the tiny tremble in her eyelashes.
I lower the phone slowly.
Her hand is still on my wrist.
And i don't move.
"You're scared," i murmur.
"I'm…" Her voice breaks. She starts over. "Yes."
I step closer. "You're not alone in this."
No witty comeback.
No denial.
No pushing him away.
Sienna just stands there, breathing softly, looking at him like she's seeing him for the first time.
And something shifts between them dangerously, quietly, unmistakably.
He lifts his free hand and brushes her hair behind her ear.
She freezes.
I don't touch her again, but i stay close enough that she can feel my breath when i say:
"I'm not letting him near you."
Her eyes glisten, just a little.
"Okay," she whispers.
And i realize, in that instant, that i would burn down cities to keep her safe.