“Your father owed a lot of people, Lena,” Elias said. “The Morettis want that ledger. Give us the key and the cipher, and we might let you walk.”

“We don’t have them,” Roman said.

“Don’t play games,” Elias barked. “Search them.”

Two of the rogue guards stepped forward.

I braced myself.

Roman didn’t wait.

He fired twice, the loud cracks shattering the night.

The guard closest to us fell, his rifle clattering to the gravel.

“Run, Lena!” Roman yelled.

He lunged at the second guard, tackling him into the dirt.

I didn’t think.

I bolted off the porch and ran toward the dark woods.

Gunshots erupted behind us, the sound echoing through the trees.

Bullets tore through the leaves above my head.

I ran blindly into the brush, branches tearing at my jacket and scraping my hands.

The ground was uneven, covered in wet leaves and mud.

I could hear heavy boots crashing through the undergrowth behind me.

“She went this way!” a man shouted.

I pushed myself harder, my lungs burning in the cold air.

The shadows of the trees stretched out like claws.