Page 106 of Dominion's Command

"Who's the witness?"

"Renata St. Clair. She's a bartender at Dominion."

I know Renata—quiet, efficient, keeps to herself. "What did she see?"

"Someone was killed in a parking garage near her apartment. The body disappeared before police arrived. Nobody believes her." Luc's already moving toward the door. "Detective Andy Broussard's assigned to the case."

"Andy?" Andy's with NOPD and a Dominion member. He knows Renata from the club.

"Yeah. It could complicate things." Luc kisses me quickly. "I'll be back late. Don't wait up."

He's gone before I can respond.

I finish cleaning the kitchen, pour another glass of wine, settle on the couch with my laptop. Work emails keep me occupied for a while, but my mind drifts to Renata, to whatever she saw, to the fear she must be feeling.

I know that fear—the constant looking over your shoulder, the not knowing who to trust, the feeling that nobody believes you when you say you're in danger.

My phone buzzes. Text from Luc:

Renata's safe at Rapier Strategic. Remy's coordinating protection detail. This is going to be a long case.

I text back:

Keep her safe.

His response comes immediately:

Always.

I set down my phone and stare at the wine in my glass. Not long ago, I was the one needing protection, the one in danger. Now it's Renata's turn.

The cycle continues. Threats emerge. People get hurt. And those who can fight back do.

I think about Armand sitting in a cell, waiting for his trial, about Julien dead, about Fontaine dead, about all the choices that led to this moment.

And I think about who I am now.

I run an empire and I kneel for Luc. Both are real. Both are mine.

The performance is over.

I finish my wine and head to bed. Luc will be late handling the Renata situation, but that's fine. I'll be here when he gets back.

The constant fear, the pretending—it's all gone.

I'm exactly who I choose to be.