The villa had a small indoor range behind the east wing.

Most of the women used it on rotation. Rowena had insisted on it when the second group arrived weapons familiarity, low-light drills, maintenance checks.

Liam had approved it without much interest at the time. Today he walked down the narrow corridor toward it with a different purpose.

Jessica was alone when he opened the door.

She stood at the far bench, field-stripping a sidearm with clean, practiced movements. The parts were laid out in a precise line. She didn’t look up right away. Only after the last piece was set down did she acknowledge him.

"Mr...." just Liam.

She gave the same small and waited.

"I want your evaluation of the new night-loadout," he said. "Rowena’s notes are thin."

Jessica glanced at the open case beside her, then back at him. "I already submitted notes."

"I read them. I want the version that isn’t written for a report."

For a moment she said nothing. Then she stepped aside slightly, giving him space at the bench.

"The new suppressors add length," she said. "They’ll snag on the narrow railings near the north balcony if someone moves in a hurry. The weapon lights are fine.

The spare magazines Rowena ordered are a different manufacturer than the primaries. The release texture doesn’t match. In the dark that’ll cost half a second."

Liam picked up one of the magazines and turned it over in his hand. "You always this direct?"

He set the magazine down and leaned his hip against the edge of the bench. The position put him closer than a normal conversation required. Jessica noticed. She didn’t step back, but her shoulders adjusted.

"How long have you done this kind of work?" he asked."Long enough."

That’s not an answer."It’s the only one relevant to the job."

Liam watched her face. She kept her eyes on the disassembled weapon, fingers moving again as she began putting it back together. The movements were smooth and controlled.

"You don’t like personal questions," he said.I don’t answer ones that don’t matter.

"And if I decide they matter?"

Jessica seated the barrel assembly with a soft click and finally looked at him. Her eyes were steady, dark, and completely unimpressed.

"Then I’ll decide whether I keep working here."

The words landed clean. No hesitation. No drama. Just a boundary placed exactly where she wanted it.

Liam almost smiled.

Most women in the house already watched him too long when they thought he wouldn’t notice. Jessica also watched him but he mistook that look for something else.

He let the silence sit between them while she finished reassembling the weapon. When she set it down and reached for the next one, he spoke again.

"The oldest one in the second group. The one with silver at her temples. What’s her name?"

"Cole."

"She any good?" She’s better than good. She doesn’t waste motion.

"And Renee?"Jessica’s hands paused for half a second on the new weapon before continuing. "Renee covers ground well. She notices changes in patterns."

"You notice I asked about them instead of you."

"I noticed."

"And?"

"And I’m still waiting for the part of this conversation that requires me to be here."

Liam pushed off the bench and walked a slow half-circle around the table, stopping on her other side. Now she had to turn her head to keep him in view.

"You’re not curious why I hired only women over thirty-eight?" he asked.

"No." Most people would be.

"Most people aren’t being paid to keep your grounds clean of harm. I am. The rest is your business."

It was the most effective dismissal he had received in a long time.

Liam studied her profile. The line of her jaw. The faint scar near her collarbone that disappeared under the jacket.

The way her breathing stayed even even though he was close enough to catch the warmth coming off her skin.

She won’t be that easy to claim.When she reached for a cleaning cloth, her fingers brushed the side of his hand.The contact lasted less than a second, but she didn’t apologize or shift away afterward. She simply continued working.

Liam watched her hands."You’re careful," he said."Yes."

"Even when you don’t have to be."

Jessica finished with the cloth and set the weapon back in the case. Only then did she turn fully toward him.

"Is there anything else you need evaluated?" she asked. The question was straightforward.

Liam held her eyes for a long moment. She didn’t look away.

"Not today," he said.Jessica nodded once, closed the case, and picked it up. "Then I’ll continue my rotation."

She moved past him toward the door. This time she brushed her shoulder against his arm.

Deliberate or not, she didn’t acknowledge it. The door opened, closed, and the sound of her footsteps faded down the corridor.

Liam stood alone in the range for a while, looking at the empty bench.She hadn’t given him anything obvious.

He turned off the lights and left the range.

Upstairs, the study was quiet. Liam closed the door, crossed to the window, and stood there long enough to catch Jessica crossing the courtyard below.

She walked with the same controlled pace as always. No glance up toward the glass. No break in posture.Jack’s voice came from the doorway behind him.

"You’re doing the staring thing again."

Liam didn’t turn. "She’s walking across an open courtyard."

"Uh-huh." Jack came to stand beside him, following his gaze. "You talked to her."

"Yes."

"And?" She’s difficult.

Jack’s mouth curved. "Good. I was getting tired of watching everything in this house tilt in your direction." He watched Jessica disappear into the east wing, then added, "She’s still got a ridiculous ass though. Difficult or not."

Liam said nothing.Jack left the room shaking his head, muttering something about logistics and pants sizes.

Liam stayed at the window a while longer.Jessica was going to take time.That was fine.

He had time. And for the first time since the women arrived, the resistance felt more interesting than easy compliance ever could.

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