The heavy magnetic locks engaged with a series of sharp, metallic thuds that echoed through the marble lobby of Graves Tower. The giant glass revolving doors froze mid-spin, trapping two executives in expensive suits half-in and half-out. A silent crimson light flickered along the frame of the entrance, signaling an absolute security lockdown.

Deafening ringing filled my ears. Smoke filled the limousine, smelling of sulfur and burnt rubber.

Through the haze, I saw Marcus fire three quick shots through the shattered window before a heavy boot kicked the driver's door wide open. Marcus was pulled out into the street.

Hands grabbed at my collar.

"Get your hands off her!" Nathaniel roared.

Despite his age and expensive suit, Nathaniel moved like a feral animal. He grabbed the attacker's wrist, twisted it until a bone popped, and hurled the heavy man out of the rear door. He grabbed my arm, pulling me down beneath the level of the bulletproof glass.

"Ruby, stay low!" he commanded, reaching under the limousine's leather sofa to pull out a sleek, black metallic briefcase with a biometric lock. He pressed his thumb against the scanner. The briefcase clicked open, revealing a suppressed pistol and three encrypted drive sticks.

"Who are these people?" I screamed over the sound of shouting and shattering glass outside.

"My former board members," Nathaniel said through gritted teeth, racking the slide of the pistol. "The ones who answered to your late grandfather. When I took control of Graves Energy, I thought I purged them all. But someone in my executive circle has been waiting for you to resurface."

The back door was torn off its hinges with a mechanical crunch. A tall man with a severe crew cut and a deep scar slicing across his left eye stepped into the frame, holding an assault rifle aimed directly at Nathaniel’s chest.

"Put the gun down, Mr. Graves," the scarred man said calmly. His voice sounded like dry gravel grinding together. "Orders from the Board. The girl comes with us. You return to the tower and sign over the energy deeds as planned."

"Commander Knox," Nathaniel said coldly, stepping between me and the barrel of the gun. "You were loyal to Victor Vance for twenty years. But Victor is dead."

Knox grinned, exposing a row of silver-capped teeth. "Old Victor might be six feet under, Mr. Graves. But he left a precise protocol in his will. If Sarah Vance’s bloodline ever resurfaced in the city, all corporate assets revert instantly to the Vance Trust—managed by his primary executor."

"Who?" Nathaniel demanded.

"Me," Knox sneered. "Now hand over the bastard heir, or I put a bullet through your knee."

I cowered behind Nathaniel, my hands tightly gripping the back of his suit jacket. My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. Everything I knew about my quiet, miserable life was burning down around me in the middle of a dirty city street.

"You want my heir?" Nathaniel whispered, his silver eyes flashing with deadly intent. "Take her if you can."

Nathaniel didn't shoot Knox. Instead, he slammed his thumb onto a red button hidden inside the open briefcase on the floor.

A high-pitched, ear-splitting shriek blasted from the limousine's external speakers—an acoustic pulse weapon designed for corporate security defense.

Knox and his mercenaries instantly dropped their weapons, clutching their bleeding ears and screaming in agony. The glass on the surrounding buildings shattered into a million sparkling shards.

"Run, Ruby!" Nathaniel grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the smoking vehicle into the rain.

We sprinted down the narrow, trash-strewn alleyway behind Aldridge Street. My sneakers slipped on the wet pavement, but Nathaniel held onto my hand with an iron grip. Behind us, I could hear the shouts of Knox's men recovering from the acoustic shockwave and giving chase.