6:41 A.M. — CROFT ESTATE
Allison woke to seventeen emails.
That was the first sign her new career interest might have terrible boundaries.
She stared at her phone through one half-open eye, briefly considered putting it facedown, then saw the sender.
ELIAS VANCE
The subject line beneath it was less encouraging.
FORENSIC REVIEW — PRELIMINARY TRACE
A warning followed.
DO NOT FORWARD — PRIVILEGE STATUS UNDER REVIEW
And beneath that, Elias had added:
The overnight team found downstream exposure in several structures under your Successor Protector authority. There is also a discrepancy in Bellweather's exit from Hartwell. Rachel wants you briefed before counsel decides whether it affects the frozen trusts.
Allison read the final sentence again.
A discrepancy.
Beside her, Lucian didn't move.
"You're awake," he said.
She looked over. His eyes were still closed.
"You're creepy."
"You say that often."
"You weren't even looking at me."
"You stopped breathing normally."
