Page 33 of Duty Unbound

I’d expected this reaction. Loyalty was admirable, but it wasn’t going to keep her sister alive.

“That’s the problem,” I said gently. “Family shouldn’t be your first line of defense. He’s too old, too slow, and entirely too friendly to be effective security.”

Her shoulders tensed, but she didn’t immediately argue. “So you want to fire him?”

“I want to reassign him,” I clarified. “We can find somewhere else for him to work, but it won’t be the front gate. That position needs someone with tactical training and faster reflexes.”

Mel hesitated, clearly torn. “He loves that job.”

“And you love your sister,” I countered. “Which matters more?”

A long silence stretched between us. Finally, she nodded, just once. “Okay, but please find him something meaningful. Don’t just shuffle him off to make coffee.”

“Deal,” I agreed. I could keep the man’s pride intact while not allowing him to be a liability.

Once the systems were in place, I led Mel down the hall to what was going to be our control room, gesturing her inside. The space was tight, dominated by a wall of monitors displaying live feeds from the cameras we’d installed on the property. Jace was already there, no surprise, feet propped up on the desk, tablet in hand as he monitored the system. This was where he felt most comfortable.

“I want to show you how this all comes together,” I said.

Logan and Ty were in position outside, ready to run an intrusion drill. I wanted Mel to see firsthand how tight we’d locked this place down.

She stood beside me, arms crossed, her gaze flicking over the screens as Jace toggled between feeds.

“Logan, Ty,” I said into my comms. “You’re up.”

On-screen, Logan moved first, approaching the east fence with calculated precision. He tested the motion sensors with a low approach, staying beneath the usual detection range. But the moment he stepped too close, the perimeter floodlights snapped on, bathing the area in harsh white light.

A second later, Jace’s laptop let out a sharp ping. “Perimeter breach detected,” he reported, eyes flicking over the data. “South fence, sector four.”

I couldn’t help the small satisfaction that tugged at my mouth. “Nice try, Logan.”

His voice crackled through my earpiece. “Yeah, yeah. Thought I had that one.”

I switched feeds, watching Ty attempt the front gate. He moved fast, testing the lock reinforcement, but the moment he did, an alert flashed on the screen. The extra guards we’d hired were already moving toward his location.

I nodded, satisfied. “No one’s getting in unnoticed.”

Mel exhaled beside me, slow and steady. I could almost feel the tension rolling off her. Not relief. Not yet. Something else.

She lingered, watching the screens as Ty held up his hands in mock surrender, the guards acknowledging him before stepping back. The drill was over.

“So…” She hesitated, arms tightening around herself. “This will keep her safe?”

Her voice held something I didn’t like—doubt.Worry. Maybe both. Last night had really affected her.

I turned toward her, watching the way her fingers pressed into her sleeves like she was trying to hold herself together.

“It’ll give her a fighting chance,” I admitted, voice low. “The rest depends on us.”

And unfortunately, other factors we couldn’t control. Ifsomeone was willing to give their life to take Nova’s, it would be almost impossible to stop them.

But telling Mel that wouldn’t do any good.

She swallowed, nodding once, but I caught the way her lips pressed together, the way her brows knit in something close to resignation.

She wanted certainty. Wanted a guarantee I couldn’t give.

Nobody could.

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