Page 79 of The Viper
"They're connected to Byron Dane's past," I finished.
Noah nodded. "Our father made enemies. A lot of them. Some are still out there, looking for payback. If they know you're part of Dominion Hall now, that makes you a target."
The weight of it settled on my shoulders like a pack full of rocks. "And Lexi?"
"She's new leverage," Noah said bluntly. "They know you care about her. That makes her valuable to them."
My hands curled into fists. "So, what's the play?"
"We tighten security. Limit exposure. Figure out who the hell we're dealing with before they make another move." He paused, studying me. "How's she holding up?"
I thought about Lexi in the guest room, curled under blankets, exhaustion finally pulling her under. "Surprisingly well. Better than I expected, honestly."
"Hollywood probably prepared her for crazy."
"Yeah," I said. "She's used to cameras, threats, people wanting pieces of her. This is just a different flavor of the same shit."
Noah nodded. "Good. We need her calm. Panic spreads, and that's when mistakes happen."
I was about to ask what our next move should be—whether we pulled back or pushed forward—when the door burst open.
Lexi.
Her eyes were wild, face pale, hair tangled like she'd just woken up. She was breathing hard, clutching her phone in one hand.
I was on my feet before I realized I'd moved. "What's wrong?"
"It's Hannah," she gasped. "She's been attacked."
The world narrowed.
Everything else—the office, the harbor, the note on the desk—faded to background noise. My vision tunneled, locking onto Lexi's face, her words replaying in my head like a recording stuck on loop.
Hannah. Attacked.
My mind clicked over, shifting gears from analysis to action. The operator in me took the wheel, cold and efficient, pushing emotion aside because emotion got people killed.
"Where?" I asked, my voice flat.
"Our house. Someone broke in—" Lexi's voice cracked. "She called me, Lucas. She was crying. She said someone was in her room and?—"
"Is she still there?"
"No. She got out. She's in her car. She's—" Lexi looked down at her phone, hands shaking. "She's scared."
Noah was already moving, pulling up his tablet, fingers flying across the screen. "Address?"
Lexi rattled it off, her voice steadier now, the shock giving way to focus. Noah typed it in, pulling up a map, then a live feed from nearby traffic cameras.
"I've got eyes on the street," he said. "No visible threats. But if someone was inside, they're either still there or they bailed when she ran."
I turned to Lexi, gripping her shoulders. "Call her. Tell her to drive here. Now. Don't stop, don't talk to anyone, just get here."
She nodded, already dialing, the phone pressed to her ear. "Hannah? It's me. Listen?—"
I turned back to Noah. "We need a team. Now."
"Already on it." He was typing again, sending messages, coordinating. "I'm sending four of my guys to sweep her place. If someone's still there, they'll find them."
