Chapter 29: A Dangerous Game

Luna gripped the armrest of the car door as Elijah drove through the city streets, his expression hard with focus. The night had settled over the city, but the bright lights did little to ease the unease clawing at her chest.

"You're tense," Elijah noted, glancing at her briefly before returning his eyes to the road.

Luna exhaled sharply. "Can you blame me? Someone inside Blackwell Industries orchestrated Avery's kidnapping, and now I'm their next target. I don't like being a pawn, Elijah."

He tightened his grip on the wheel. "You're not a pawn. Killian won't let anything happen to you. Neither will I."

Luna bit the inside of her cheek. The problem was, she didn't want to sit back and let others protect her. She wanted to do something.

The car turned onto the driveway of Killian's estate, where two additional security vehicles were stationed outside. Men in black suits patrolled the perimeter, earpieces in place, their gazes scanning the area for any threats.

Elijah put the car in park. "You're safe here. Just stay inside, and let the security team handle everything."

Luna scoffed. "You say that as if whoever is behind this is going to just back off because we have guards."

Elijah sighed. "Luna—"

Before he could finish, his phone rang. He answered quickly, his expression darkening. "What do you mean?"

Luna sat up straighter. "What is it?"

Elijah didn't answer. Instead, he threw the car door open, stepping out while still on the call. Luna followed, her pulse quickening.

She barely made it to the entrance when she heard the tail end of the conversation. "I'll handle it. Keep him there."

"What's going on?" she demanded.

Elijah hesitated. Then, with a resigned sigh, he turned to her. "We found someone. A possible leak."

Luna felt her stomach twist. "Who?"

"One of the senior IT analysts. He accessed security footage before it was wiped and made an unauthorized call from a secure line." Elijah's jaw tensed. "Killian's questioning him now."

Luna's heart pounded. "I want to be there."

Elijah frowned. "That's not—"

"Don't tell me it's not safe. Nowhere is safe. If I'm being targeted, I have a right to know who's behind it."

Elijah sighed but relented. "Fine. But you stay close to me."

Back at Blackwell Industries, Luna and Elijah arrived at a private sublevel, where Killian stood in front of a steel-reinforced door. His stance was rigid, controlled fury radiating from him.

Luna barely had time to process the tension in the air before Killian turned to her, his gaze sharp. "You shouldn't be here."

"And yet, here I am," she shot back. "Who is he?"

Killian exhaled through his nose before gesturing to the security feed on a nearby monitor. A man sat inside a stark interrogation room, his face pale, his hands shaking.

"Damien Hart," Killian said. "One of our senior security analysts. He had clearance to access internal systems, which is how he managed to wipe the surveillance logs. He was careful—whoever he was working with gave him specific instructions."

Luna studied the man. He looked terrified. "What did he say?"

"He claims he was blackmailed." Killian's voice was tight. "That someone threatened his family if he didn't cooperate."

Elijah folded his arms. "And you believe him?"

Killian's gaze darkened. "Not entirely. But I want to know who's pulling the strings."

Luna frowned. "If he was being blackmailed, then whoever is behind this has access to private information about your employees. That means the leak is bigger than just Damien."

Killian nodded, the muscle in his jaw ticking. "Exactly."

The realization sent another chill down Luna's spine. This wasn't just a single traitor. This was an infiltration.

The door to the interrogation room opened, and Avery Maddox stepped out, looking far more composed than she had an hour ago. Her blonde hair was disheveled, but her sharp eyes had regained their focus.

Luna rushed to her. "Avery! You shouldn't be up yet. You need to rest."

Avery gave a weak laugh. "Rest? After what just happened? Not a chance."

Killian's expression softened for the briefest moment before he hardened his gaze. "Are you sure you're up for this?"

Avery lifted her chin. "I was drugged and thrown into a locked room. Someone inside our company did that to me. You bet I'm up for this."

Luna looked between them, suddenly reminded of how deeply Avery was tied to both of them. She wasn't just Killian's most trusted secretary—she was also Luna's best friend. The one who had been by her side through the darkest moments of her life.

The thought of losing her sent a fresh wave of anger through Luna.

Avery turned to Killian. "Damien isn't lying."

Killian's jaw tightened. "You're sure?"

"I heard them talking," Avery said. "Before I blacked out. The voice on the phone—whoever was giving the orders—they knew everything about Blackwell Industries. About our movements. Our security. If they wanted me gone, they could've made me disappear completely. But they didn't. They wanted to make a statement."

Luna's stomach turned. "And that statement was?"

Avery looked directly at her. "That they're coming for you next."

Silence fell over the room, thick with tension. Killian's posture went rigid, his fists clenching at his sides.

Elijah let out a curse. "This isn't just an attack on the company. This is personal."

Luna felt Killian's intense gaze settle on her, the weight of his protectiveness pressing down on her. "We're increasing security. Effective immediately."

Luna lifted her chin. "You can double the guards, triple them if you want. But if they've already infiltrated Blackwell Industries, then I won't be safe anywhere."

Killian's nostrils flared. "You'll be safe because I say so."

Luna took a step closer, refusing to back down. "I am not a fragile little thing that needs to be locked away."

"No, you're not," Killian said, his voice low, dangerous. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to let them take you from me."

Something flickered between them, something raw and unspoken. A past neither of them had fully confronted.

Avery cleared her throat. "If I may interrupt this intense moment—there's something else. I remember something from the call."

Killian and Luna turned to her in unison. "What?"

Avery hesitated. "They mentioned a name."

Luna's pulse quickened. "Whose?"

Avery's voice was barely above a whisper. "Cameron."

Killian's expression turned ice cold.

Luna frowned. "Who's Cameron?"

A muscle ticked in Killian's jaw. "My half-brother."

Luna's breath caught. She had never met Cameron Blackwell, but she knew the name. Knew the whispers about him.

And if he was involved in this—

Then they had an even bigger problem than they thought.