Daniel looked at me, his eyes narrowing as he searched my face for any sign of softening.

He saw none.

“You’re really going to let them ruin her,” he said.

“She ruined her own standing when she lied to federal officers,” I said.

Daniel took a deep breath, his chest expanding under his linen shirt.

He glanced toward the stairs, then back to me, his posture shifting.

The pleading look was entirely gone now, replaced by a tense, calculating expression.

He stepped back, crossing his arms over his chest.

“If you go through with this, Rachel,” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

“If you bring those investigators into this house.”

He paused, letting the threat hang in the cold air.

“I won’t just sit by and let you destroy my daughter’s life.”

I met his gaze, my face expressionless.

“Is that a threat, Daniel?” I asked.

“It’s a promise,” he said.

He glanced at Major Harris, then back to me.

“You think your rank makes you untouchable.”

“But the public doesn’t care about your stars when they hear about what happens behind closed doors.”