That night, Thomas didn't settle and couldn't sleep until very late, as he continued his study of Ross's women.
He made notes—times of day they were alone, places they visited without Ross, names of friends who could be turned or watched. Patterns. Vulnerabilities. Entry points.
Charm one. Distract another. Befriend the quiet one. Seduce the boldest.
It was all strategy. All manipulation.
But as his fingers moved over the keyboard, as he compiled a plan so intricate it could pass as poetry, there was a brief pause in Thomas's heart. A flicker.
A memory. A time when he wasn't a weapon—just a man who wanted to love and be loved.
That time was long gone.
He shut the thought down and opened the secure communication channel on his device.
MESSAGE TO HQ – ENCRYPTED
Target research complete. Entry strategy underway. Proceeding with soft contact phase.
—Casanova
He closed the laptop with a quiet click and let the silence of the room wrap around him once more.
