“He’ll destroy you, Kate,” he whispered.

“He doesn’t tolerate thieves.”

I swallowed hard, the back of my throat dry.

“You’re bluffing,” I said.

“Try me,” he said.

He watched my face, looking for any sign of weakness.

“You have ten minutes to get to the main terminal,” he said.

“Enter the override codes for the Sterling account,” he added.

“And if I don’t?” I asked.

“Then I call Sterling’s head of security myself,” he said.

He took his phone out of his pocket and tapped the screen.

“I already have the draft email ready to send,” he said.

“Complete with screenshots of the bank transfers in your name,” he added.

I looked at the phone, then back at his face.

The man I had loved for three years was completely gone.

Only this cold, desperate stranger remained.

“You’re a monster, Tristan,” I said.

“I’m a survivor,” he said. “Just like you.”

He put the phone back in his pocket and reached for my wrist.

His grip was tight, his fingers digging into my skin.

“Do we have an understanding, Kate?” he asked.