Nolan POV
Kieran arrived without an announcement.
That alone told me everything.
Security alerted me only after he was already inside the outer perimeter of the packhouse, his scent sharp with panic and exhaustion, his posture rigid in a way that spoke of a man who had not slept—and likely had not stopped replaying the same moment in his head since it happened.
I had expected to hear from him in some form before the week was out. But it was the morning after the incident at the debate. This wasn’t a diplomatic visit, it wasn’t paying respects. This was something else.
When I entered the receiving room, he looked up like he’d been expecting a blow. He was twitchy, uneasy. His gaze locked on me.
For a split second, he looked exactly like August had earlier that nigh
