He swallowed hard, a muscle twitching in his jaw.

“I’ll take it,” he said.

He quickly scribbled his signature on the final page of the custody agreement.

Marcus grabbed the papers, stamped them with the heavy metal seal, and slid them into his leather bag.

“It’s legally binding,” Marcus said. “You are the majority shareholder now, Clara.”

“Let’s go,” I said, turning back toward the rain.

We ran out into the pouring street.

The cold drops stung my face, mixing with the sweat on my forehead.

Garrett’s black SUV was idling near the curb, its headlights cutting through the gray sheet of water.

We threw ourselves into the leather seats.

Marcus climbed into the front passenger seat, while I got in the back next to Garrett.

The driver slammed his foot on the gas, and the tires screeched against the wet asphalt.

“Call my mother,” I told Marcus, my heart hammering against my ribs.

“I’ve been trying,” Marcus said, holding his phone to his ear. “It’s going straight to voicemail.”

“She must have turned off the landline,” Garrett said, staring out the window at the blurred city lights.