I had trusted her with my life, with the life of my unborn child.

“You used me,” I said, the words tasting like ash.

“You wanted to get out,” Sophia said, looking at me without a hint of remorse. “I am giving you that, but everything has a price.”

She turned her gaze back to Marcus, her eyes hardening.

“The Vale family has controlled the North Side security grid for twelve years,” she said. “It is time for a change in management.”

The red LED lights on the security cameras in the corners of the ceiling suddenly blinked green.

Then they went completely dark.

A low hum echoed through the walls as the backup generators kicked on, then clicked off again.

“You have shut down the perimeter,” Marcus said, his voice dangerously calm.

He reached into his tailored coat, his hand moving toward his holster.

“I wouldn’t do that, Marcus,” Sophia said, raising her phone higher. “The moment my thumb leaves this screen, the system locks every door in this house.”

Luca looked toward the frosted glass windows flanking the front door.