Aria’s POV
The estate went to full lockdown within minutes, the calm, practiced chaos of guards moving into position, lights cutting out across the grounds to remove any advantage the dark might have given whoever was approaching.
“Stay in the safe room,” Romanov said, already moving toward the door.
“No.”
He turned, sharp irritation flashing across his face. “This isn’t the moment to argue with me, Aria.”
“I’m not arguing,” I said. “I’m telling you I can help. I know this house better than half your guards do now. I know where the blind spots are in the security rotation because I’ve been living inside your rules for weeks. Use that instead of locking me away every time something goes wrong.”
He studied me for a long moment, the pistol still loose in his grip, weighing something I c
