The silence in the grand foyer was so heavy you could hear the soft, frantic ticking of Vanessa’s diamond-encrusted wristwatch. I didn’t put my coat back on.

I stepped through the creaking iron doors, carrying only a single handgun. Sudden industrial floodlights flared above, blinding me for a split second.

In the center of the warehouse, Grace and little Lily were bound to two wooden chairs. Thick black tape covered their mouths. Behind them stood six heavily armed mercenaries, with Victor standing in front, casually tossing a silver hunting knife between his hands.

"Punctual as always, brother," Victor smirked. "Unbuckle your holster and kick it over."

I looked at Grace. Her eyes were swollen with tears as she shook her head frantically, pleading with me to run. Lily was shivering in terror beside her.

I slowly unclipped my holster and kicked the gun across the floor.

"You have me," I said, holding my hands up. "Let Grace and Lily go. This is between you and me."

"Between you and me?" Victor stepped up to me and delivered a brutal backhand across my face. The impact tore my lip open, sending blood dripping down my chin. He grabbed my collar, yanking me forward. "Do you know what it felt like being locked in that institution?! Eating slop, enduring shock therapy every week while you played prince in Charlotte?! You stole my life!"

"Father locked you away because you were insane, Victor!" I growled back, staring him dead in the eye. "You murdered your own mother when you were twelve years old!"

Victor stiffened, his gray eyes dilating with rage. "You lie!"

"It’s the truth!" I rasped. "Father covered up your crime to protect the family name! He didn't lock you away out of hatred—he did it because you were a monster who couldn't be controlled!"

"SHUT UP!" Victor screamed, pulling a heavy revolver and pressing the cold barrel directly against my forehead. "I'm going to blow your brains out, and then I'm going to execute your sweet wife and her bastard child!"

Grace let out a muffled scream behind the tape.

I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing for the final shot. But right before he could pull the trigger, a thunderous explosion shattered the glass skylights above.

BOOM!

Flashbangs rained down into the hall, filling the air with blinding light and disorienting noise. Marcus and an elite tactical team rappelled down from the roof girders on steel cables.