My brother-in-law called from his business trip and asked me to water his plants. But when I unlocked his house, I found his frail, delirious niece curled up in a filthy spare room — and beside her was something that exposed the horrifying truth.

Arthur looked impeccable. He wore a custom charcoal suit, his silver hair perfectly coiffed, entirely unbothered by the fact that he was the orchestrator of a massive manhunt. Standing behind him were two massive, dead-eyed men in dark suits—his private security.

"How did you find me?" I gasped, clutching the bag to my chest.

Arthur smiled, a chilling expression devoid of any real warmth. "Elena was smart, but she wasn't a criminal mastermind. I’ve had an alert on this box for four years. The moment the teller typed in the shell company, my phone rang."

He reached out and casually ripped the bag from my hands.

"No!" I lunged for it, but one of the security guards grabbed me by the throat, slamming me hard against the viewing room wall. I gasped for air, black spots dancing in my vision.

"You've been quite a nuisance, Claire," Arthur sighed, looking through the ledgers. "Escaping the police, breaking Julian out, finding this box. I honestly didn't think you had it in you. Elena always said you were the weak one."

"She... never... said that," I choked out.

Arthur chuckled. "Doesn't matter now. The police are outside. But don't worry, they aren't here to arrest you. They're here to report a tragic shootout. A desperate kidnapper, resisting arrest. So sad."

He nodded to his guard. "Take her out the back. Bring her to the warehouse. We need to tie up loose ends before the press conference."

The guard pulled a suppressed pistol from his jacket and jammed it into my ribs. "Walk," he growled.

Arthur turned and strolled out of the vault, the stolen evidence in his hands. I was forced toward the rear exit of the bank, my mind racing. If they got me into a car, I was dead. Julian and Marcus were out front, completely unaware. I had to create a distraction.

As we passed a bright red fire alarm pull-station near the exit doors, I faked a stumble, collapsing to my knees.