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.