Page 29 of Beautifully Scarred Omega

Fair point. I hold his gaze for a beat longer than necessary before returning to my notes.

“Financial troubles? Personal issues? Anyone with a grudge against the company?”

“Our employees are well compensated,” Max says flatly. “We take care of our people.”

“That doesn’t mean someone can’t be bought. Or blackmailed. Or convinced they’re doing the right thing by selling you out.” I flip my tablet closed. “Everyone has a price. I just need to find out who took the offer.”

By the time we’re done, I have pages of notes and a mental list of at least a dozen employees who warrant closer investigation.

“I have enough to get started,” I say, rising from my chair. “I’ll review the files today and submit a preliminary assessment by tomorrow morning. I’ll also need Sentinel to run background checks on everyone, including your security team.”

“Nathan won’t like that,” Ethan murmurs.

“Nathan can dislike it all he wants. If there’s a mole, I’m going to find them. That means everyone gets scrutinized.” I meet his eyes steadily. “No exceptions. No one is above suspicion until I’ve ruled them out.”

For a moment, none of them speak.

Max nods. “Lucy will show you to your quarters. We’ll reconvene tomorrow morning to go over your assessment.”

I get up and gather my things. The air in the room has gone tight and charged. I feel Max’s stare on my back as I move, while Ethan studies me, quiet and assessing.

Finn won’t even look at me.

It took me two days to build this cover, and I spent every hour of it memorizing my cover story, Synthera’s layout, and their security systems. It never occurred to me to find out more about the men I’d be working for. They were the clients, not the suspects.

And now I really wish I fucking had.

CHAPTER 10

Ethan

Lucy pokes her head in, that perpetually cheerful smile on her face. “Sophie? I’m here to show you to your quarters whenever you’re ready.”

And just like that, between one heartbeat and the next, Sophie’s entire demeanor transforms.

Her spine, which had been steel-straight throughout our entire meeting, curves inward. Her shoulders round, making her seem smaller. The sharp focus in her dark eyes softens into something wide and vulnerable, almost doe-like. Even her breathing changes, shallower, the way someone breathes when they’re nervous.

“Oh, wonderful.” Her voice has changed too. Gone is the clipped tone. In its place is something lighter, breathier, with a tremor of uncertainty. “Thank you so much.”

She turns back to us.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Cavill, Mr. Brooks, Mr. Preston, for this opportunity.” She clasps her hands in front of her, a submissive gesture I never would have imagined her making five seconds ago, and adds a tiny stammer. “I—I won’t let you down. I promise.”

Her eyes dart between us with just the right amount of nervous energy. She even tucks a strand of hair behind her ear in that self-conscious way people do when they feel exposed.

Lucy beams at her, completely taken in. “Don’t worry, you’ll do great! Come on, I’ll show you around.”

Sophie follows her out, casting one last shy glance over her shoulder before the door closes behind them.

Holy shit.

I stare at the closed door. I’ve seen good actors before. I’ve watched people lie convincingly and slip into roles that aren’t their own.

But this wasn’t acting. This was a complete rewiring of her entire being. In the span of three seconds, maybe less, she transformed from apex predator to skittish prey. Her body language, her voice, her eyes, the very way she occupied space in the room. All of it shifted so seamlessly that if I hadn’t witnessed it myself, I never would have believed they were the same person.

Griffin wasn’t exaggerating. She’s more than good. She’s terrifying.

I turn back to my packmates.