Noah was forced to kneel on the marble floor and clean guests’ shoes like a servant.

I stood frozen, staring at that button, my heart hammering so hard I could hear it in my ears. Evelyn was not in custody. She had not been charged. She had simply been escorted from the premises. And we had been so busy watching Julian that we had completely forgotten about her.

She was here. In this house. Listening. Watching. Reporting back to Julian.

I rushed to the door and pulled it open. The hallway was empty. But at the far end, near the servants’ stairs, I caught a glimpse of blue fabric turning the corner.

Evelyn.

I did not chase her. Not yet. I ran back to Noah, shook him awake gently, and began packing.

“Mommy?” he asked, sleepy and confused. “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere safe, baby. Come on.”

I grabbed the locket, the note, my father’s letter, and every important document I could carry. I called Sarah. No answer. I called the lead security officer. Straight to voicemail.

They had been compromised. Julian had gotten to everyone.

I grabbed Noah’s hand and ran. We took the back stairs, slipped through the garden gate, and walked quickly away from the house, blending into the early morning neighborhood. I hailed a taxi, gave the driver a hotel address across town, and held Noah tight on my lap the entire way.

Once inside the room, I locked the door, chained it, and leaned against it, breathing hard. Noah sat on the bed, watching me quietly, clutching his stuffed bear.

“Mommy?” he whispered. “Are we hiding?”

“Yes,” I said, kneeling before him. “For a little while. Until we know who we can trust.”

I tried Daniel again. Still no answer. I tried Sarah’s personal number. Nothing.

They had been taken. Or worse.

I sat on the edge of the bed and unfolded the note again. Where the river bends. Julian expected Daniel there. He had set a trap. Which meant I could not send anyone else. I could not go myself—not with Noah.

Unless… I sent Julian somewhere else.

I picked up my phone and composed a message to Julian, using a temporary number I had created months ago.

**THE EVIDENCE IS IN THE FAMILY VAULT BENEATH THE MAIN HOUSE. COME ALONE. NO WITNESSES. OR I BURN IT ALL.**

I hit send.

If Julian took the bait, he would bring his men to the house. He would break in. He would tear the vault apart. And while he wasted hours searching for something that was never there, I would find a way to reach the cabin. Or find someone else I could trust.

Ten minutes later, my phone buzzed.

**VAULT IS EMPTY. I KNOW WHERE IT IS. BRING NOAH TO THE CABIN IN TWO HOURS. OR DANIEL AND ELIAS DIE.**

I stared at the screen. He had them. He had both of them.

My stomach twisted. He wanted me to bring Noah straight into his trap. He thought he had all the leverage.

But he had made one mistake.

He thought I was coming alone.

I walked to the desk, pulled out paper and pen, and began writing. I wrote down everything—the theft, the murders, the fraud, the threats, the signatures, the transfers. I wrote every single detail my father had uncovered. Every name. Every date. Every crime.

Then I sent it to every major news outlet in the country.

If I did not return in four hours, the entire world would know the truth about Julian Vance and the Holloway empire.

I stood up, tucked the locket around Noah’s neck, and kissed his forehead.

“Ready to go on an adventure?” I asked.

He nodded, though his eyes were frightened. “With you?”