Williama stiffened at the name, her body momentarily freezing, as though the mention of Dale Brown had a physical effect on her.
"Why do you need to find out about Dale?" she asked, her voice low and tinged with something that could easily be mistaken for fear. The change in her demeanor didn't go unnoticed by Aiden. He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Williama, the ever-composed, often calculating figure, was actually scared of someone. This was new.
Aiden leaned forward slightly, his gaze intense as he probed further. "What I want to do with him is none of your business," he said, "Get me his details, and I'll make sure you get your due."
Williama shook her head almost imperceptibly, the quiet gesture belying a deep sense of urgency and fear. "Aiden, listen to me." Her voice softened, but there was a heaviness in her words. "I can help you with almost anything, but not this. Not him." She hesitated, clearly weighing her next words.