Page 115 of Collateral Love
“I know who she is,” I said.
The missing father and professor from Cherry University. He moved like an erased man. He was the ghost Kenya never talked about from college.
“And Charles?” I asked.
Xavier nodded. “Half-siblings.”
Pieces clicked.
“She’s not after blood,” Channy said slowly. “She’s after a collapse.”
“Yes,” I replied. “And she’s smart enough to know bodies complicate narratives.”
Miles cleared his throat. “So what’s the move?”
I looked at him.
Really looked.
“You tell me,” I said. “You’ve been helpful so far.”
He smiled faintly. “We tighten defense. Prepare for subpoenas. Control public narrative.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” I said. “Except?—”
I turned to Xavier.
“We start logging everything Miles touches.”
Miles blinked. “Excuse me?”
I held Miles’s gaze. “If you’re clean, this protects you.”
The room held its breath.
Miles nodded slowly. “Of course.”
But his eyes didn’t reach his smile.
That was all I needed.
I turned back to the screens.
“Charles thinks this is still about dominance,” I said. “Cameron knows it’s aboutexposure.”
“And Kenya?” Channy asked quietly.
My chest tightened.
“Kenya’s the fulcrum,” I said. “Which means they won’t break her.”
“They’ll use her,” Xavier finished.
Outside,the city moved as if nothing had changed.
Inside, the war had shifted.
No guns.
