“You didn’t protect it,” Mara said, calm but firm. “You wanted full control.” She held his eyes. “You became the thing you once fought. Crane tried to steal our work from the outside. This time it was done from inside, with paperwork and smiles.”
Sloane appeared at the end of the hallway, voice soft and urgent. “Ethan, don’t let her manipulate you,” she said, stepping closer, touching his arm the way she always did when she wanted the room to follow her lead. She promised solutions, quick fixes, quiet deals.