Alyssa stuttered. “Um…yeah.”
The enforcer narrowed his eyes at Mack, sizing him up. “She walked into a private meeting.”
“And walked right back out.” Mack kept his voice reasonable, but his body language said something else entirely. Try to take her and find out what happens.
“I’m just an artist hired to sketch portraits for the party,” she said. “You can ask Rob. I needed a break but got lost in this big place.”
“Simple mistake,” Mack said.
“Let them go,” a familiar voice said from down the hall.
Mack’s gaze snapped to the study doorway. Blake Bennett stood there, perfectly still, his expression controlled in a way that made Mack’s instincts scream danger.
Their eyes locked.
Two years. Two years since Blake’s lies had cost a Marine his life and nearly destroyed Mack’s career. Two years since Alyssa had chosen her brother’s version of events over the truth.
And now Blake was walking slowly toward him, working with cartels, and his sister had just stumbled into their illegal operation.
Alyssa tensed. “Bla?—?”
“We’re on our way out,” Mack cut her off. “Just leaving before the storm gets worse.”
Blake blinked, nodded, seeming to understand the double meaning. If he didn’t call off the enforcer, things were definitely going to get worse.
“Boss said to bring her in for questioning—” the enforcer started.
“I said let them go.” Blake’s voice carried authority, the kind that didn’t invite argument. “She’s nobody. We have business to finish.”
His gaze stayed on Mack. This isn’t over.
Mack stared back. Bring it.
“But I…” Alyssa started again. She shut up when Mack squeezed her side.
Blake added, quieter but no less threatening, “Make sure your girlfriend doesn’t wander into private areas again. Could be dangerous. People value their privacy.”
The enforcer looked between them, then shrugged and headed back to the study. Blake lingered another moment, his eyes straying to Alyssa, and something flickered across his face. Regret? Concern?
He disappeared into the study, the door closing behind him with a soft click.
Mack counted to five, making sure they were alone, then turned Alyssa toward the main party. His hand settled on her lower back, guiding her forward. “Walk. Now. Don’t look back.”
She started to pull away, to turn, her mouth opening?—
“Not here, Lyss.” He kept moving, kept her moving. “Keep walking.”
She obeyed. Muscle memory, maybe. Or shock. Either way, she matched his pace as they entered the main ballroom.
Over a hundred guests filled the ballroom. Servers passed by with trays of champagne. The string quartet played an upbeat tune. Laughter and warm light gave the illusion of safety.
“Mack, what is going on?” Alyssa said. “What are you doing here? Who are those men back there, and why was Blake acting so weird?”
Mack pulled his earpiece from his pocket and put it back in. Claire was practically screaming.
“—your position immediately! Hawk, respond! Hawk!”
Mack replied calmly. “A civilian is compromised. I’m extracting her.”