Logan felt it before he fully understood it—
A shift, subtle but enough to set every instinct on edge.
His gaze slid toward Aquilo, sharp and unblinking, scanning him from head to toe with the precision of a soldier—and the suspicion of a brother.
Everything about the man screamed control.
Straight posture. Clean lines. The kind of discipline that wasn't taught overnight but carved through years of command.
A perfect officer. A perfect gentleman. And that was exactly what Logan didn't trust.
He was too polished, too composed.
Men like that didn't show their teeth unless they meant to bite.
Behind that calm exterior, Logan saw something else—
A cunning fox.
Patient. Calculating. The kind that waited for the right moment… and took what it wanted without anyone noticing until it was too late.
And right now, that "something" seemed focused on Lara.
Logan's jaw tightened.
A cold, protective instinct surged up his spine, fast and unyielding.
