Niko removed the device.

“Who changed this collar?”

Marco answered immediately.

“It arrived with the pet supply delivery two weeks ago.”

“Who accepted it?”

“I’ll check.”

“No.”

Marco stopped.

Niko’s voice remained quiet.

“Check everyone.”

Maya watched the two men.

“This is bigger than a cat escaping.”

“Yes.”

“Then I should go.”

Niko turned toward her.

“Marco will take you home.”

“I can drive myself.”

“You arrived with us.”

“Right.”

Maya looked at the dark shelves.

“I forgot that part.”

A crash sounded behind them.

Everyone turned.

Luna had jumped onto a lower shelf.

“Luna.”

Maya reached for her.

The cat pawed at a cardboard box.

Niko opened it.

Inside were invoices.

Marco picked one up.

His face changed.

“Boss.”

Niko read it.

Maya watched his eyes harden.

“What?”

“Payments.”

“To whom?”

Niko handed the paper to Marco.

“Companies that don’t exist.”

Marco flipped through the stack.

“These approvals have my security authorization.”

“Did you authorize them?”

“No.”

Niko looked toward the house.

Someone had forged Marco’s credentials.

Someone with access.

Someone trusted.

Maya lifted Luna.

“I think your cat just solved another problem.”

Niko looked at Luna.

“You’re getting salmon.”

Maya laughed.

For one second, the tension broke.

Then headlights swept across the windows.

Marco immediately moved toward the door.

“Someone’s coming.”

Niko remained beside Maya.

A golf cart stopped outside.

An older man stepped down.

Silver hair. Expensive jacket. Calm smile.

“Mr. Bellini.”

Niko’s expression revealed nothing.

“Victor.”

Victor Hale had managed the Bellini estate for eleven years.

He looked at Maya.

“I wasn’t aware we had a guest.”

“Dr. Bennett.”

“The veterinarian?”

Maya nodded.

Victor looked at Luna.

“I see the princess has caused trouble again.”

Niko held up the tracker.

Victor’s smile disappeared.

“What is that?”

“You tell me.”

“I have no idea.”

“You manage deliveries.”

“Yes.”

“Luna received a new collar two weeks ago.”

Victor frowned.

“I don’t personally inspect cat accessories.”

Marco stepped closer.

“Who does?”

“House staff.”

“Names.”

Victor’s expression tightened.

“Is this necessary?”

Niko’s eyes settled on him.

“Yes.”

Victor slowly listed three employees.

Marco recorded them.

Maya watched Victor carefully.

He seemed annoyed.

Not frightened.

But when Luna suddenly hissed at him, something strange happened.

Victor stepped back.

Too quickly.

Maya noticed.

“So she does hate someone,” she murmured.

Victor gave a thin smile.

“She’s never liked me.”

Niko looked at Luna.

Then Victor.

“Why?”

“Cats are strange animals.”

Maya’s voice sharpened.

“Not usually without reason.”

Victor’s gaze shifted to her.

For the first time, the warmth disappeared from his expression.

Niko noticed.

“Victor.”

“Yes?”

“Look at me when you speak.”

Victor did.

Niko’s voice remained calm.

“Dr. Bennett is my guest.”

“Of course.”

“Treat her accordingly.”

Victor nodded.

Maya looked at Niko.

She didn’t need protection.

But she understood the message.

Victor did too.

Later, Marco drove Maya home.

Niko came with them.

“You didn’t have to,” Maya said.

“I know.”

Luna occupied the seat between them.

Maya glanced over.

“Do you trust Victor?”

“I did.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Niko looked through the window.

“No.”

Maya nodded.

“You noticed Luna’s reaction.”

“Yes.”

“She wasn’t just irritated.”

“What was she?”

“Afraid.”

Niko turned toward her.

Maya continued.

“She backed away before she hissed. Fear first. Warning second.”

Niko’s expression changed.

“Victor told me Luna hated him.”

“He lied.”

“How do you know?”

“Because an animal that simply dislikes someone usually doesn’t react like she expects something unpleasant.”

Niko became silent.

Maya looked at Luna’s pink bandage.

“If Victor has been frightening her—”

“I’ll find out.”

His tone was controlled, not loud.

That somehow made it more serious.

The SUV stopped outside Maya’s apartment.

She opened the door.

“Niko?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t assume the obvious answer is automatically the right one.”

He studied her.

“You think Victor might not be behind it.”

“I think someone wanted that tracker found.”

Niko’s eyes narrowed.

Maya continued.

“Why put it beneath a bright pink collar on a white cat?”

Niko looked down at Luna.

Maya stepped onto the sidewalk.

“Maybe Luna wasn’t being tracked.”

Niko went still.

“Maybe she was carrying something.”

The door closed.

Niko stared after her.

Then he looked at Luna.

For the first time that night, the mafia boss appeared genuinely unsettled.

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