He held the phone tight against his ear, his knuckles white.

“I’m listening,” Ryker said, his voice dropping an octave.

The tiny speaker crackled with a dry, rasping laugh.

Even from a few feet away, I could hear the smug tone of Gideon Voss.

“I assume you have the children,” Voss said.

“They are safe,” Ryker replied. “And they are staying with me.”

“For now,” Voss sneered. “But we both know you don’t have the legal right to keep them. Not yet.”

Ryker glanced down at Lily and Owen.

He stepped out of the panic room, gesturing for me to follow him into the hallway.

I pulled the heavy oak door shut behind us, leaving Mrs. Gable with the twins.

“What do you want, Voss?” Ryker demanded.

“I want what belongs to me,” Voss said. “The Steel legacy. Your late father’s voting shares.”

“You’re insane if you think I’ll sign those over to you,” Ryker said.

“Then I will tie you up in custody battles for the next ten years,” Voss threatened. “The kids will go to state care while we fight. You know I have the judges in my pocket.”