Page 22 of Knox

“Wait, if you didn’t have machetes, how did you manage to open them without tools?” asks Damián.

Leif’s grin widens, and he scratches his beard. “Björn shot at them.”

Damián bursts out laughing. “Why do I even ask?”

Logan finishes reading the contract, so he places it inside a folder and takes out a printed list of names.

“Now that we are all here, minus Tae, let’s talk about roles.” He slides the list toward our hacker.

“Alexios, I want you to run a deep background check on every single person on the auction guest list.”

“On it, boss,” Alexios responds, his hands already returning to the keyboard.

“Damián, I need you to assist Alexios,” Logan continues. “Identify the high-risk individuals and see if their behavior profiles match our suspect.”

“Sí, jefe.”

“Law and I will handle the legal logistics, the contract compliance, and everything we need to research for the final deal.” Logan shifts his gaze back to the laptop screen. “Twins, keep testing the estate perimeter. Map out as many blind spots and entries as possible, and be ready to establish a live feed.”

“Ja, boss!” the twins say in unison.

Logan finally turns to look at me.

Damn it…

I can tell how much he hates assigning me a job he knows I’m going to despise, but we both know it’s necessary.

“Knox, you’ll be in charge of his personal security detail.”

“So I am stuck babysitting the brat.”

“You are an expert in close combat, a master with weapons, and above all, I trust you with my life.”

Ugh…

The emotional toll will be intense, but I can’t argue.

I know exactly why I am the best choice for this job.

Cillian is volatile, very unpredictable, and a huge flight risk. He needs someone he can’t physically shake off.

So yeah, it makes perfect sense.

Doesn’t mean I have to like it, though.

“Fine…” I mutter, taking a cookie from a tray.

“Haha!” On the laptop screen, Björn reaches into his pocket and pulls out a crumpled hundred-dollar bill, shaking it at the camera. “A hundred dollars says the client dies,” he announces. “Stabbed by Knox.”

“Wow, Viking… what a shitty friend you are. It’s like you don’t even know Knox.” Alexios shakes his head in disapproval.

I am two seconds from thanking him when he reaches into his own wallet, pulls out a hundred-dollar bill, and slaps it onto the table next to his laptop.

“Knox won’t use a knife; he’s going to kill him with his bare hands.”

I glare at the two of them. “Whoa… thanks for the huge vote of confidence, assholes.”

KNOCK! KNOCK!