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She stares at me with a mixture of relief and something that might still be betrayal. “But you came for me.”
I nod. “The moment I found out.”
The silence stretches between us, heavy with everything we’re not saying. Then she straightens, struggling to regain her composure. “The baby’s fine,” she says quietly. “I didn’t take any hits to my stomach.”
The relief that floods through me is so intense it’s almost painful. “Good. Go pack while I check something.”
She disappears into the bedroom, and I start moving through the apartment like I own it because in a sense, I do now. She’s carrying my child, which makes her mine, and anything that’s hers becomes mine by extension.
I start with the obvious places anyone could hide a small surveillance device, including the smoke detectors and electrical outlets. It doesn’t take long to find what I’m looking for in the vent cover in the living room. It’s slightly askew, just enough to suggest it’s been removed recently.
I lift it carefully and reach inside, closing my fingers around a small, sophisticated piece of equipment that definitely doesn’t belong in a low-rent apartment building. It’s a wireless, battery-powered camera, with enough memory to record weeks of footage. I hold it up and examine it more closely. The make and model are familiar. I use similar devices for my own surveillance operations. This isn’t some amateur job. Whoever placed this has resources and training.
“Sabrina?”
She appears in the bedroom doorway with an armful of clothes. “What is it?”
I hold up the camera. “They’re watching you.”
Her cheeks pale, and she drops the clothes. “What do you mean?”
“Someone planted surveillance equipment in your apartment. It wasn’t me or my crew. Someone else.”
The color drains from her face entirely. “How long has it been there?”
I hesitate and look up at the vent again before answering. “Based on the dust patterns, at least a couple of weeks. Maybe longer.”
She sinks down onto the couch like her legs won’t hold her anymore. “The man at the club. Carl. You think he was?—”
“I think he was paid to watch you. He’s a regular customer, which means he had access to you on a predictable schedule. Someone’s been using him to monitor your movements.”
She frowns, looking confused. “He did say a couple of things about following orders… But why? I’m nobody. I don’t know anything?—”
“You know me.” I speak firmly, almost harshly, wanting to cut through her denial. “You spent four days at my safehouse. You’ve seen my face, know my first name, and can identify my voice. That makes you valuable to my enemies.”
She stares at me with growing horror. “Your enemies.”
“I’m sure you’ll find it hard to believe that I have enemies, but there are people who would love nothing more than to get their hands on someone who could provide intelligence about my operations.” I pocket the camera and move toward the window, checking the street for anything that looks out of place. “Or who would use you to get to me if they suspect there’s anything…personal between us.”
“By hurting me?”
“By hurting you and our child.” The possessive way I say ‘our child’ makes her flinch, but I don’t care. It’s the truth, and she needs to understand what that means. “They were inside yourhouse, Sabrina. They’ve been watching you eat, sleep, shower, and probably listening to your phone conversations with your roommate. This isn’t about choice anymore.”
I turn to face her, and she’s hugging herself like she’s trying to hold the pieces together.
“You’re coming to stay with me at my estate outside the city. Not because I’m forcing you, but because it’s the only way to keep you and our child safe.”
She’s quiet for a long moment, processing the magnitude of what I’m telling her. Then she nods just once, but it’s enough. “Okay, I’ll come with you.” She stands up and starts gathering the clothes she dropped. “I need you to promise me something.”
“What?”
“You said you’d take care of Jessie too. What does that mean?”
“It means she’ll be protected. Relocated if necessary.”
She shakes her head, looking worried. “She won’t want to leave the city. Her whole life is here.”
I inhale and exhale to maintain my calm. My priority is Sabrina, but I can’t dismiss her concerns for her friend. “We’ll make sure her whole life is protected.” I pull out my phone and speed-dial Maksim. “It’s me. I need you to handle something.”