<h4>Chapter 337: Chapter 337 Closing Ranks</h4>


    Author’s pov


    The moment Yvonne returned home that night, she ordered a thorough sweep of everything she owned. Not a single item was too ordinary to check.


    They searched everything. Her townhouse, her car, every handbag, and her phone. Even herpact mirror and powder case.


    They treated it like a full-on crime scene.


    Eventually, they found it. A tiny listening device hidden inside her phone case.


    After swapping out her phone for a clean burner, she started to call Cecilia. But halfway through, she stopped.


    Sebastian’sst words came back to her. So did that look in his eyes. Cold and hard to read.


    She considered warning Harper instead, but again hesitated. If her phone had beenpromised, Harper’s probably was too.


    Her thumb hovered over the screen. She tapped the phone against her palm, thinking.


    Then, with a deep breath and a decision made, she called Harper anyway.


    "Sweetie," she said, keeping her tone light, almost breezy, "someone broke into my ce. Thank God the police caught them, but I need to give a statement. Could youe with me?"


    Harper was still at herw office but agreed immediately.


    They met outside the local precinct.


    While Yvonne was inside giving her statement, Harper quietly used her credentials as Yvonne’s attorney to ask a few questions. It wasn’t anything official, just enough to understand what they were up against.


    One detail stopped her cold.


    "The miniature syringe tested positive for HIV-infected blood," the officer said.


    Harper’s stomach turned.


    A needle? HIV?


    Her breath caught in her chest.


    When Yvonne finally came back out, they didn’t say a word.


    They just walked to the car in silence, the weight of it all pressing down on them.


    Once inside, she typed something on her new phone and turned the screen toward Harper. Harper read it, then nodded slowly.


    They drove to a restaurant nearby.


    Before she went in, Harper left everything in the car. That included her earrings and rings.


    Yvonne watched her with quiet approval.


    Only when they were safely inside a private dining room did Yvonne finally speak.


    "It wasn’t meant for me," she said quietly. "Cecilia was the target."


    "What?" Harper shot up from her chair. "They were after Cece?!"


    "Yes," Yvonne confirmed.


    "That’s why I asked you to leave everything in the car. I know I was being monitored, and odds are, you are too."


    Harper nced at the phone Yvonne had ced on the table, screen down.


    "Don’t worry," Yvonne said. "It’s clean. I reced the old one first thing."


    Harper exhaled. "So when you texted me to ditch my phone and jewelry, you thought I might be bugged too?"


    "If they got to me," Yvonne said, "you’re an even easier target. You’re closer to Cecilia. Emotionally. Strategically."


    "You should sweep your home and office. Every drawer, every light fixture. Don’t leave it to chance."


    Harper nodded, her face tight. "I’ll do it as soon as I get back."


    "Right now, George and the saleswoman are pointing fingers at each other," Yvonne continued. "George swears he knew nothing, and the woman says she was just following orders."


    "But even if they won’t talk, we both know who’s behind this."


    "Maggie," Harper said tly.


    Yvonne’s eyes narrowed. "And Cici, still out there somewhere."


    Harper thought of someone else. Not Maggie. Not Cici.


    The name hit her out of nowhere. It sent a chill through her veins.


    Belinda.


    The woman Cecilia had mentioned only once but never in detail.


    Harper didn’t bring her up. Some names were safer left unsaid.


    She took a sip of water, trying to steady her nerves.


    "What was Sebastian’s reaction? Did he say anything?"


    Yvonne picked up her fork and took a measured bite of sd, as elegant as ever.


    She dabbed her lips with a napkin before answering.


    "He was acting strange," she said. "He pulled Cecilia outside, then came back in. Tang and I exined everything clearly. He had to know Cecilia was the real target."


    "And?"


    "And he acted like I was the one in danger. He questioned the saleswoman, but his tone was almost casual. Before he left, he told me not to worry. And that I shouldn’t contact Cecilia for a while."


    Harper frowned. "Maybe he’s trying not to spook whoever’s behind it? Keeping his cards close?"


    Yvonne shrugged.


    "Maybe. Or maybe that’s just... Alpha Sebastian."


    Harper tightened her grip on the ss, then set it down.


    "I’ll go see Cecilia tomorrow morning."


    --


    The next day, Harper arrived early at Sebastian’s ce.


    The kitchen still carried the scent of coffee and toast, though breakfast was long finished. Everyone had eaten except Cecilia.


    Sebastian had been up early for work but hadn’t touched food. He was saving breakfast to eat with her.


    He sat beside her now, flipping through a file while she picked at her food, clearly distracted.


    Harper took her chance.


    She stepped in a little closer and lowered her voice.


    "I met with Yvonnest night. We checked my apartment and my car, but we didn’t find anything. Then again, the bug in her phone wasn’t visible either. So we can’t assume everything’s clear."


    She looked directly at Sebastian.


    "So tell me what I can do. How can I help?"


    Sebastian didn’t look up. His tone was cool, clipped.


    "If you really want to help, step back. This is for your own safety, Harper. Stay out of it."


    "Harper, please," Cecilia added, her voice soft. "It’s too dangerous."


    Harper stayed rooted.


    "I’m not trying to y hero. I just... I can’t sit back and do nothing while you’re in danger. That’s not who I am."


    She wrapped an arm around Cecilia’s shoulders and turned to Sebastian, her voice steady but edged with fire.


    "Let’s be real. Cece’s not doing great right now. Physically, emotionally, all of it. She needs people she can count on. And if you think I’m just going to disappear from her life because it makes things easier for you, you’re way off."


    Cecilia leaned into her gratefully, her head resting briefly against Harper’s shoulder.


    Sebastian said nothing, but his jaw tensed.


    Cassian, who’d been leaning on the balcony railing, stepped inside with deliberate slowness.


    "Sebastian," he said, with a casual shrug, "Cecilia could use someone steady right now. Harper’s loyal. Smart. Tang handles external security, and Harper can take care of the rest. It’s a win-win."


    Harper’s eyes narrowed.


    Day-to-day needs?


    That phrasing hit her like a subtle rm bell. She turned to Sebastian again.


    "You’re nning to hide her, aren’t you? Take her off the grid?"


    Cassian didn’t flinch. He simply pulled out a chair and sat down.


    "It’s the safest option. You can’t fully lock down public spaces. Yvonne’s ce had decent security, and still, look how that turned out."


    "The threat isn’t just outside. It’s everywhere. Offices, sidewalks, even inside your own home. It makes more sense to disappear than to stay visible and exposed."


    Harper didn’t like agreeing with him. But she couldn’t argue with the logic.


    She kept her eyes on Sebastian and spoke carefully."Then let me go with her. I was already nning to take some time off. I can travel with her. I’ll hand my cases over to other attorneys at the firm."


    Sebastian hesitated. His expression gave nothing away, but something in his eyes shifted.


    Harper caught it instantly.


    "What’s with the look?" she asked, folding her arms. "You don’t trust me?"


    His silence said enough.


    She let out a dry, humorlessugh.


    "Seriously? Cece isn’t your wife. Don’t start treating her like property. I’ve seen enough of that crap from Xavier tost a lifetime."


    Sebastian’s jaw clenched. He stood abruptly.


    "Come with me," he said. "To my study."


    Harper blinked.


    "Me?"