“I will ruin all of it,” Victoria said.

Her voice did not shake.

She pointed the key fob toward a silver SUV parked in the shadow of the brick wall.

The vehicle’s lights flashed twice, the locks clicking open.

“Get him in the car, Claire,” Victoria said quietly.

I didn’t wait for Julian to make another move.

I threw my arm around Alexander’s waist, taking the brunt of his weight.

He stumbled, his boots dragging on the wet pavement.

“Hurry,” I breathed, my heart pounding against my ribs.

We moved past the front of the black sedan.

The heat from its radiator washed over my bare legs.

Julian did not move, but his security guards took a step forward.

“Stand down,” Victoria commanded.

She stood directly between the guards and us, her phone held high.

“I am pressing dial, Julian.”

“Try me.”

Julian raised a hand, signaling his men to stop.

His eyes remained fixed on Alexander.

“He won’t last a week without the medical regimen, Claire,” Julian called out.

“He is weak.”

“He is broken.”

“He is mine,” I muttered under my breath.