The snow tapped against the double-paned glass of the master bedroom.

Outside, the Chicago winter had painted the estate in shades of gray and white.

I pulled the zipper of my leather duffel bag shut.

It was light, containing only cash, a change of clothes, and my real passport.

I set the bag by the door and walked back to the heavy mahogany desk.

On the polished wood sat two items.

The first was the divorce agreement, signed in black ink.

The second was a white plastic wand showing two distinct pink lines.

I touched my flat stomach, feeling the slight flutter of anxiety that had lived there for weeks.

Marcus did not know yet.

If I stayed, this child would belong to the syndicate before it ever learned to walk.

I took a deep breath, grabbed my leather gloves, and picked up the duffel bag.

The floorboards in the hallway were silent under my boots.

I reached the top of the grand staircase, my hand sliding down the cold iron railing.

Then the heavy oak front doors swung open downstairs.

The wind howled, throwing a flurry of snow into the foyer.

Three figures stepped inside, shaking the frost from their heavy coats.

Marcus stood in the center, his tall frame cutting a dark silhouette against the white storm.

To his left was his younger brother, Luca, whose eyes immediately darted up the stairs to find me.

To his right stood Sophia.

She was wearing her tailored wool coat, her face entirely devoid of the warmth she usually showed me.

“Going somewhere, Elena?” Marcus asked, his voice low and steady.

He did not look angry; he looked disappointed, which was far worse.

I froze on the carpeted landing, my fingers tightening on the strap of my bag.

“I am leaving, Marcus,” I said, trying to keep my voice from trembling.

Luca stepped forward, his hands raised slightly in a placating gesture.

“Elena, please,” Luca said. “Just come downstairs. Let’s talk about this.”

“There is nothing left to talk about,” I said, looking down at them.

Marcus walked to the foot of the stairs, slowly unbuttoning his damp overcoat.