The riad was asleep, save for the faint rustle of palm leaves in the courtyard. Ethan moved like a shadow along the balcony, his bare feet silent against the cool tiles. He hadn't been able to sleep—not after seeing the way Caroline and Elise had looked at Vanessa earlier.
He found them where he suspected—downstairs, huddled in whispers.
Caroline's tone was sharp, her accent softened by years of travel. "Vanessa has something I need. If she doesn't give it willingly, I'll take it."
Elise frowned. "You can't just—"
"I can," Caroline cut her off. "And I will. You know what's at stake."
Ethan's chest tightened. He stepped into the light. "What's at stake for who?"
Both women turned. Elise's eyes flickered with warning. Caroline's smile was slow, dangerous.
"Well," she said, "looks like the boy-toy has teeth."
---
They moved to the courtyard table. Caroline leaned forward, eyes locked on Ethan. "I need access to Vanessa's private accounts. The ones she doesn't declare to her board. You get me that, and she stays safe. Refuse, and… Marrakech can be a very dangerous place for a woman alone."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "You threaten her, you threaten me."
Caroline smirked. "Oh, darling… that's exactly the point."
---
Back in the suite, Ethan watched Vanessa sleep, the moonlight painting her skin silver. He could tell her everything—but if he did, she'd run straight into the fire.
His fingers brushed her cheek. She stirred, mumbling his name, and he kissed her temple softly.
"Sleep," he whispered. "I'll fix this."
But he didn't know yet if fixing it meant saving her… or betraying her.