The silence in the ICU room was heavier than the lead aprons I wore in radiology. Dante’s words hung in the sterile air like poison: I had people watching you.

Before I could digest his confession, the house security sirens shrieked through the estate, flashing blood-red strobe lights across the dark walls.

Marcus burst through the doors, his face pale. “Boss! Perimeter breach at the south gate! It’s not just Valerio’s men—the FBI is hitting the front gate with a federal warrant!”

Dante’s jaw set into stone. “Valerio dropped a tip to the feds to trap us inside while his hit squad moves in under the chaos.”

He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out two passports and a heavy black USB drive. He shoved them into my hands.

“Take Mia through the escape tunnel in the cellar,” Dante commanded, looking straight into my eyes with an intensity that burned through six years of pain. “This drive contains every shell company, every off-shore account, and every piece of evidence needed to lock Valerio away forever. It also leaves my entire fortune to Mia.”

“No,” I said, clutching the drive. “I’m not running again, Dante! I spent six years thinking you abandoned us! I’m not letting you die in this house!”

“Claire, look at me!” Dante yelled, grabbing my shoulders. “I’ve been dead since the morning I left your apartment! The only living parts of me are in that bedroom down the hall! Save our daughter!”