Page 89 of The Gentleman

He pointed to a plate of pastries. “Brock made me try these. What are they again?”

“Eccles cakes,” Brock muttered, appearing behind him with a jug of milk. “British culinary history in a flaky shell.”

Zak shrugged, unrepentant, and grabbed another. “They’re great,” he said around a mouthful. “Even if they look like someone sat on them.”

He swallowed, and the ease drained from his face. “It’s time to end this. Time to end everything Raptor has touched.”

“Couldn’t agree more.” Fox set down the cloth he’d been running over a bolt carrier. His sleeves were rolled to the elbow, ink crawling over forearms better suited to a back-alley brawler than a Duke.

“Looking gorgeous as ever, Landon.” He tossed her a wink, then flicked a glance at Leo. “Someone’s been taking care of business.”

Kat smiled. “Fox. Still disappointing the King, I see.”

He grinned. “Daily.” But the light in his eyes dimmed fast. “Leo’s filled us in. I’m so sorry about your friend, Jane.”

Jane’s name hit like a bruise pressed too hard.

She nodded, swallowing hard. “Thank you. It’s been... a long few days.”

The brief quiet that followed wasn’t memory. It was respect.

Then Griff unfolded from his chair, all six-foot-four of mountain muscle and contained power. “Good to see you again, Landon—though I’d prefer less dramatic circumstances.”

“Me too.” She rubbed the back of her neck, weary but grateful. “How’s your shoulder?”

“Better. Thanks for asking.” His expression darkened. “Jo saw the news. Traitor?” He shook his head, jaw tight. “Bullshit.”

Her head dropped, the joy of seeing them diluted by the cold press of reality.It’s fixable. Right?

Abe gripped her hand between both of his—calm and commanding.

His handshake was careful, a study in controlled strength. “Freya sends word. She knows you’ll handle this.”

“How is she?”

“Brilliant. Currently running an ethics conference on neural tech.” His mouth compressed. Freya had barely survived her own run-in with Korolov. “Making sure the science matters.”

“Thank you.” The words were too small. “All of you.”

Eli’s hand touched her arm. “You said you found something.”

Not a question. He’d been listening.

“Yes.” Kat moved to Brock’s terminal in his dining nook. The glow of the screen lit her face as she moved the mouse. “I’ve found the second site.”

She took a breath, centering herself as Leo positioned himself close by. “Arken’s accounts were clean on the surface. Underneath—shell companies, offshore routing. Gage got us that far.” The connections mapped across the screen. “But follow the money...”

She hit a key, and a satellite image swept across the screen. Dense jungle, jagged coastline, shadowed edges blurred by cloud cover.

“… and it leads here. El Nido, Palawan.”

She zoomed in and highlighted the facility.

“Cliffs, isolated coves, inaccessible. One narrow access road. Perfect for hiding something you didn’t want found.” She dropped back against her chair back. “The London site is down. This one’s still hot. Forty-eight hours until launch.”

Leo’s recognition was instant. “The Arken Institute?”

“Yes. Same accounts receiving Korolov’s payments,” she confirmed.

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