Dominic Vale studies the young woman standing before him. His sharp eyes scanned her posture—the rigid line of her shoulders, the quiet defiance in her hazel eyes.

Dominic was out of his chair before the last word left Hannah's lips.With cooling efficiency,he looked sleek,matte-black firearm from a concealed holster beneath his suit jacket,Signaling the head of his security detail with a sharp hand gesture.

"Lock down the estate."Code Red,Dominic ordered,his voice dropped into the icy register of a syndicate boss who commanded empires.

The dining room descended into chaos.The maids shrieked,scuttling towards the service corridors,while Lucas,Mason,and instinctively slide under the heavy mahogany dining table,Their tough facades instantly shattering into childhood terror.

Hannah didn't dive under the table.however,she bolted toward the French doors,her instincts screaming that the intruder was trying to escape rather than attack.

"Miss Reed,Get back!Dominic shouted,grabbing her arm with a grip like iron.

"Let go of me,Mr.Vale!They're getting away!" Hannah wrenched her arm free,unlocked the heavy latch,and threw the doors open into the cold,rainy night.

The East Garden was a maze of sculpted boxwoods and ancient oak trees,Slick with the autumn rain.A dark figure was sprinting toward the perimeter wall,leaping over a stone bench with athletic precision.

"Intruder at sector four!"" Hannah shouted into the darkness,pointing towards the fleeing shadow,even though she knew security guards were already converting from the main gate.

Flashlights cut through the mist,illuminating the wet grass.Two armed guards tackled the fleeing figure near the rose arbor,bring them down with a heavy thud.

Dominic stepped out onto the terrace beside Hannah,His gun was still raised.scanning the perimeter with eyes narrowed to slits.

"Bring them to the security office," Dominic commanded into his lapel mic.Then,He turned to Hannah,his dark gaze burning into hers.What were you thinking?You could have been killed."

"I was thinking that someone is watching your kids,Hannah,shivering as the cold rain plastered her hair to her face."And if you spent half as much time worrying about the rats inside your walls as you do intimidate your staff,maybe your family would actually be safe."

Dominic is stuck.The sheer audacity of her words hung heavily in the damp air.No one spoke to Dominic Vale like that—least of all an employee who had been in his house for less than two hours.

"Inside."Now,Dominic said,though his voice deprived of its previous venom.There was a new,dangerous curiosity in his eyes.

When they returned to the warmth of the foyer,the three boys were peeking out from behind the staircase banister.Their gray eyes were wide,tracking Hannah with a completely different kind of look now—not hostile,but reluctantly awe.

Are you...Are you a secret agent?According to the army,His voice trembled slightly.

Hannah brushed a wet strand of hair from her forehead,looking down at the youngest triplet.