Fernando watched Gérard with a sharp, measuring gaze and he understood him. There was no doubt in his mind: Gérard would not reject Charlotte. That had been clear from the start. Allowing him to speak with his daughter hadn't been a gesture of trust; it had been a test. Fernando had deliberately suggested that Gérard might refuse her, just to provoke a reaction and the answer had been written plainly across the man's face.
Gérard believed himself composed, unreadable even. But Fernando had seen enough to know better.
"I will keep her safe. As long as she is with me, no harm will come to your pack from my side," Gérard said evenly.
Dominique's glare could have cut through steel.
"And how do we know you won't hurt her?" Damien asked, his voice controlled, though the fury beneath it was unmistakable.
"You don't have a choice," Gérard replied with casual indifference.
Alexandre's jaw tightened, his molars grinding together.
