Page 49 of Sanctuary

Connor remained silent, his presence solid and watchful beside me as we sat across from her.

“You look terrible,” Elise observed, her eyes cataloging my bruises and the haunted look I knew lingered in my gaze. “Craven?”

I nodded, suppressing a shudder. “He’s dead.”

She allowed herself a small smile. “Good. Never liked that sadistic bastard.” Her attention shifted to Connor. “You did that? Impressive.”

“We both did,” Connor replied evenly. “Now, do you have what we need?”

Elise raised an eyebrow at his directness, then slid a manila envelope across the table. “Everything’s there. Security protocols, building schematics, Matheson’s schedule for the next week.” She lowered her voice. “And the evidence I’ve been collecting. Financial records, unauthorized hit orders, blackmail material he’s used on agents—including what he has on your sister.”

My breath caught. “Lily?”

She nodded. “Address, surveillance photos, everything. Once Matheson is gone, you can get to her before anyone else does.”

I felt Connor’s hand find mine under the table, a silent gesture of support that nearly undid me.

“Why now?” I asked Elise. “You’ve been gathering this for years. Why help me?”

Her practiced smile slipped, revealing a glimpse of genuine emotion. “Because Matheson’s getting desperate. He’s crossing lines even the agency won’t tolerate. And because—” She hesitated, then reached across to briefly touch my hand. “Because you were the only one who ever treated me like a person, not just an asset.”

The moment of vulnerability passed, and her professional mask slid back into place. “There’s one more thing you should know. Matheson’s planning something big involving the MacGallan’s. It’s scheduled for tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow?” Connor tensed beside me. “What is he planning?”

Elise glanced nervously around the room before leaning closer. “I don’t have all the details, but it involves something at your family estate. He’s mobilizing a tactical team—elite operatives, heavily armed. Whatever he’s after, he’s done waiting.”

My blood ran cold. “We need to warn them.”

“There’s more,” Elise continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “Matheson’s been obsessed with something your father had—some kind of ledger or record. Something that could destroy not just him, but half the power players in the country.”

Connor’s expression darkened. “My father kept records of every deal he ever made. Insurance, he called it.”

“That’s what Matheson wants,” Elise confirmed. “And he’s willing to eliminate your entire family to get it.”

Connor was already standing, pulling me up with him. “We need to go. Now.”

“Wait,” Elise called, sliding a small flip phone across the table. “Burner. I’ll contact you if anything changes.”

Outside, Connor practically dragged me back to the truck, his face set in grim determination. “We’re going straight to the estate. If Matheson’s planning an attack for tomorrow night, we need to prepare.”

Chapter 24

Connor

The drive to the estate was thick with tension, neither of us breaking the silence as we wrestled with our own thoughts. I was still trying to wrap my head around everything, but the pressing threat loomed larger. A tactical team. Elite operatives. The people I considered family—both by blood and by choice—were in jeopardy.

As we neared the estate’s familiar gates, I heard her murmur, “Connor.” Her voice barely above a whisper, “they’re going to hate me when they find out who I am. How am I going to explain this to Wren?”

I reached over the console, took her hand in mine, and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Let me handle it. I’ll make them understand.”

“How?” she asked, a hint of desperation in her voice. “I was sent to kill Declan. To kill you. How do you make someone understand that?”

“By telling them the truth,” I replied, my voice steady. “That you chose us over your mission. That you’re risking everything to save us now.”

Radley, in the gatehouse, recognized my truck and waved at us as we passed by. The long driveway stretched out ahead, leading us to the stone mansion that had become a second home for her over the past weeks. Lights shone brightly from the windows, and I could see people moving inside.

“Ready?” I asked as I parked the truck.

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