Page 47 of Playing with Fire

I shouldn't have been surprised Algerone was spying on me. He was a resourceful fucker, and his children were his most valued possessions. I could say a lot of bad things about my biological father, but the one thing I couldn't call him was a slouch when it came to protecting what he considered his. If anything, he went overboard.

But he knew about the fire at Leo's place, and he somehow knew it was connected to this one, which meant he probably knew at least as much as me about Phoenix. Maybe more. What I wouldn't give to have access to his databases. His mercenary company, Lucky Losers Inc., had enough tech to make the fucking Army look like they were playing with toy soldiers.

The fucker knew what he was dangling in front of me, too. He knew that I'd want whatever info he had, access to his resources. Him, I could take or leave, but if he was willing to give me what I needed to protect Leo? How could I say no?

I forced my shoulders to relax and stood up straight, mimicking his posture by shoving my hands in my pockets. "What do you want?"

The corner of his mouth quirked up in a slight smirk, like he'd fucking won. "What I want is to secure your safety."

I crossed my arms. "And what does that look like?"

Algerone lifted his eyes, scanning the fire. "Ideally, locking you in a safe room in Spade Tower while I send out a team to find and deal with this... Phoenix."

"No deal," I started to say, but he cut me off.

"However..." His eyes snapped back to mine. "I am willing to... compromise." He said the last word like it pained him. "Maxime?"

Maxime shuffled forward, fingers scrolling over the tablet screen. "The Sentinel is available, sir," he said and handed Algerone the screen.

Algerone looked over the screen. "Ah, yes. A state-of-the-art off-the-grid smart home in a secure location. Fourteen bedrooms, each with reinforced steel-core doors and biometric locks. The master suite includes a panic room with an independent air filtration system and a direct encrypted line to my private network."

He glanced back at the tablet. "The house itself is self-sustaining—solar, geothermal, and a concealed backup generator capable of running the entire property indefinitely. The security system is military-grade: thermal imaging cameras, motion sensors keyed to recognize residents, and AI-driven threat analysis. Every window is ballistic glass, and the entire structure can go into lockdown at a moment's notice."

Mom's jaw tightened, but he continued.

"Entertainment won't be an issue, if that's your concern. The media room is equipped with a 200-inch OLED screen, spatial audio, and a full VR suite. There's a heated indoor pool, a sauna, and a gym outfitted with professional-grade equipment. The wine cellar is stocked, and the kitchen is chef-designed with every luxury imaginable."

He paused, tilting his head. "And, of course, the location itself is ideal. Secluded, surrounded by acres of protected forest, with only one discreet access road. Drones patrol the perimeter at randomized intervals, ensuring no one approaches undetected. If anything gets within a mile of the property without clearance, you'll know before they do."

Algerone handed the tablet back to Maxime and clasped his hands behind his back. "It's the best option. Safe, comfortable, and, most importantly—impenetrable."

I felt Leo's subtle shift beside me, the slight quickening of his breath at the description. If I knew anything about Leo, he was practically about to cream his pants just hearing about all that tech. I couldn't blame him. It sounded like the perfect nerd playground. But this was Algerone. He didn't offer anything without a price in mind.

Mom crossed her arms. "And what do you want in return?"

Algerone's expression didn't flicker. "Nothing."

I scoffed. "Bullshit."

His gaze slid to me, cool and unreadable. "The price has already been paid."

That sent a ripple of unease through us. Mom stiffened, and even River—who usually didn't blink at Algerone's cryptic nonsense—tilted his head slightly, watching him with that assessing look he got when someone was lying to his face.

Dad was the one who finally spoke. "Explain what you mean."

Algerone let out a slow breath, as if he'd expected the question and was already bored with it. "The funeral home was a symbol of your strength. It made you a target. But it was also a liability." His eyes flickered to Mom. "You built something powerful, Annie, but Phoenix found a weakness. They exploited it. This is a fresh start."

Mom's jaw tightened, but he continued.

"The Sentinel is secure. And the fewer ties you have to your old life, the harder it will be for Phoenix to find you again." His lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smirk. "You should be thanking me."

"Thanking you?" I let out a laugh, sharp and humorless. "You expect us to be grateful that you're sweeping in like some savior, sticking us in one of your high-tech cages?"

Algerone arched a brow. "Would you rather stay here and wait for the next attack? Because there will be a next attack."

The words hung heavy in the air. No one argued.

I glanced at Leo, finding his eyes already on me. Two fires in one week—both targeting him, both escalating in violence. I thought about the files I'd been compiling on Phoenix, the hints we'd been gathering. Close, but not close enough. Not fast enough to keep Leo safe.

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