I pulled Ruby closer to my side, her small shoulder pressing against my hip.

My fingers tightened around the yellowed letter, the paper crinkling under my grip.

Julian Dunleavy took another step into the lobby, leaving a wet trail of footprints on the polished white stone.

“You have no business here, Julian,” Nathaniel said, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous register.

Julian stopped, his gaze shifting from me to Nathaniel, a thin smirk playing on his lips.

“I think I do,” Julian replied, brushing a drop of rain from his dark wool coat.

“My family built the foundation of your precious property division, Nathaniel.”

“And your family systematically stole from the people living in those buildings,” Nathaniel said, stepping directly between Julian and us.

“That is a matter of interpretation,” Julian said, his eyes narrowing as he looked past Nathaniel’s shoulder at me.

“Is that Claire Ellis? Or should I call you by your maiden name?”

My breath caught in my throat, and I felt the old fear rising, cold and sharp in my chest.

Before I could answer, a low vibration rattled the thick glass walls of the lobby.