I did not blink.

“We are done talking,” I said.

I turned toward the front door, gesturing for Harris to follow.

“Rachel, wait,” Daniel called out, his voice sharp.

Before I could reach the handle, my government-issued phone vibrated in my pocket.

The screen lit up with a secure notification from the Pentagon.

I swiped the screen of my phone with my thumb, bypassing the encryption prompt.

The message was from the Regional Security Office at Fort Carson.

It was brief, direct, and marked with a high-priority red banner.

*Security detail en route to your location. Intercepting potential threat to command integrity.*

I slid the device back into my pocket without showing Daniel the screen.

“Is that your office?” Daniel asked, his eyes tracking the movement of my hand.

He tried to look indifferent, but his knuckles were white where his arms crossed.

“We are finished here, Daniel,” I said.

I took a step toward the front door.

He did not move out of my way.

Instead, he planted his boots on the hardwood floor, blocking the brass handle with his body.