Page 48 of The Hunter's Empire

A man in a black suit waits near the entrance hall. Older. Impeccably dressed. The kind of person who has served powerful families long enough to become part of the house itself.

"Mr. Moreau. Miss Laurent." His voice is smooth and practiced. "Mr. Keegan sends his regards. Dinner will be served shortly. In the meantime, I have been instructed to show you to your room."

Our room.

The wording barely registers at first. Not until we follow him upstairs. Not until he opens the door. Not until I step inside. Then stop.

The room is enormous. A private sitting area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake. A fireplace. Antique furniture.

And one bed. One very large bed.

The silence beside me lasts exactly two seconds. Then I hear Domenico exhale through his nose. Not surprise. Amusement. That is when I know he expected this.

The butler remains completely professional. "If there is anything you require, please inform the staff."

The door closes behind him as the latch clicks softly.

I continue staring at the bed. "Say it."

Domenico sets his bag down. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

I turn slowly. "You knew."

His mouth twitches. A clear mistake. Because now I know for certain.

"You absolutely knew."

"It was a possibility."

"A possibility?"

His expression remains infuriatingly calm. "We are engaged."

"We are pretending to be engaged." I whispered.

"A distinction the Keegans are unlikely to appreciate."

I look back at the bed. Then at him. Then back at the bed again. The situation somehow becomes more ridiculous every time I process it.

"You could have warned me."

"And deprived myself of this reaction?"

Domenico walks past me toward the windows. Completely relaxed. Completely at home. As if sharing a room was the least noteworthy part of the operation. It should be. For me too. But why is it affecting me so much?

We had only been in Ireland for a few hours. Already, the lines between our cover and reality felt more complicated than I would have liked.

Taking a slow breath, I force my attention back where it belongs. The Keegans. The operation. The reason I came here in the first place. Because allowing myself to get distracted now would be a mistake.

Chapter 12

Zora

For the first time since arriving at the estate, neither of us seems interested in arguing. The tension is still there, lingering beneath the surface, but it feels quieter now.

I move toward the window overlooking the lake while Domenico drops his travel bag beside one of the chairs. The evening light has almost disappeared, leaving only the reflection of the manor's lights and the sunset dancing across the water below.

Behind me, I hear the faint rustle of fabric. I tell myself not to pay attention. But unfortunately, my curiosity has never been one of my strengths.