“What do you mean?” she asked, her voice rising in panic.

“I own the holding company that bought your prime lender last week,” Dante said.

“Your firm’s trust accounts are being flagged for fraud as we speak.”

Vanessa’s face went completely slack.

“You’re freezing my entire firm,” she said.

“I am erasing your license, your assets, and your protection,” Dante said.

“By morning, you will be nothing but a liability to Marcus.”

I lowered the gun slightly, looking at her broken expression.

She had helped Marcus steal my inheritance, my sanity, and my future.

Now she had nothing.

Suddenly, a sharp, metallic scraping sound came from the other side of the office door.

We all froze.

The handle jiggled violently.

Then, the lights in the office went completely black.

Only the pale green emergency light over the exit door cast a dim glow across the room.

My breath hitched in my throat.

Dante stepped in front of me, his shadow shielding me in the dark.

“Stay behind me,” he whispered.

The sound of wood splintering echoed through the room.

Someone was forcing the door from the hallway.