Chapter 50: Mine to Protect
The papers still sat between them.
Lucas hadn’t touched them since Trevor set them down, and Trevor hadn’t moved since. The library was quiet—too quiet for spring—but the window had been left cracked open, and the air that drifted in smelled faintly of earth and pale blossoms. Somewhere outside, a breeze stirred the first leaves on the trees. Soft green, not yet stubborn.
Inside, everything remained still.
Trevor leaned forward first, resting his forearms against his thighs. "You are not fine."
"And you’re repeating yourself."
"Let me deal with the NDAs. And when I find something," Trevor said, voice smooth, "I will make sure to inform you. That’s why I’m here."
He smiled then, not the charming one he wore in public, not the crooked one he used when teasing, but something quieter, sharper. The kind of smile that would make others shiver. The kind that meant someone, somewhere, was about to lose.
Lucas leaned back slightly, watching him. "And what exactly do you plan to do with that information?"
Trevor tilted his head, still smiling. "Something loud. But legally phrased."
Lucas exhaled through his nose, the ghost of amusement flickering at the corner of his mouth. "Try not to get arrested. It would reflect poorly on our engagement."
"Please," Trevor said, rising from his chair and tucking the folder under his arm. "If I get arrested, it’ll be on purpose."
Lucas watched him leave with the same casual walk and relaxed body language he always had—like nothing ever touched him unless he allowed it. The door clicked softly behind him.