Page 21 of Silence and Surrender

“Is that what I am, Rodger? A complication?”

“That depends.” He turned back to me. “On whether you’re as smart as your father was. On whether you understand when to stop asking questions.”

“I understand plenty.” I straightened my files, fighting the urge to storm out of the room. “Including the fact that you’ve been monitoring my computer access.”

He smiled, the kind of smile that made my skin crawl. “Just doing my job. Risk management is crucial in banking.”

“And what risk am I posing, exactly?”

“That’s what I’m trying to determine.” His eyes raked over me, assessing. “Your recent interest in shipping manifests. Your conversations with Moreau. Your...late night research.”

“You’ve been watching me.”

“We watch everyone, Miss Delacroix. It’s what keeps institutions like Devereux running smoothly.”

I stood, matching his posture. “Smoothly enough to hide trafficking behind art acquisitions?”

The words left my mouth before I could stop them. Stupid. Reckless. Everything Colton had warned me against.

Rodger didn’t flinch. Didn’t even blink. Just smiled that terrible smile again.

“Careful,” he said softly. “Some questions can’t be taken back.”

“Some answers can’t be hidden forever,” I countered, though every instinct screamed at me to stop pushing.

“Everything can be hidden with the right documentation.” Rodger moved closer, his cologne harsh and chemical. “Your father understood that, in the end.”

My phone buzzed on the table, Colton’s name lighting up the screen. Rodger’s eyes flicked to it, a frown finally replacing that sinister smile.

“Your guard dog calling to check on you?” He picked up my phone before I could reach it. “How sweet. Tell me, does he know what happened to the last person who looked too closely at our shipping operations?”

“Give me my phone.”

“Of course.” He set it down with exaggerated care. “Just remember, Moreau’s position at this bank is...valuable. It would be a shame if his career suffered because of misplaced loyalty.”

The threat to Colton sparked something fierce in my chest. “Leave him out of this.”

“That’s up to you, isn’t it?” Rodger gathered his papers. “Clean up the authentication reports. Stop asking questions. Focus on your actual job.”

“Or what?”

His smile returned, crueler than ever. “Or history repeats itself. Heart attacks run in families, I hear.”

He left me standing in the conference room, shaking with rage and fear. My phone rang again.

I answered without thinking.

“Where are you?” Colton’s voice was tight with concern. “Julia said Rodger called you into a meeting.”

“I’m fine.” But my voice betrayed me, wavering slightly.

“Stay there. I’m coming down.”

“No.” I forced strength I didn’t feel into my tone. “We can’t be seen together right now. Rodger is watching.”

A pause. “What did he say to you?”

“Nothing that matters.” Everything that matters. “Just normal bank business.”

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