“I need to see Marcus first,” I said.

Caleb’s smile faded.

“You are not in a position to negotiate,” he said.

He pulled a small radio from his pocket.

He pressed the button.

“Bring him in,” Caleb said.

A moment later, the side door of the study opened.

Two of Caleb’s men dragged Marcus into the room.

His face was bloodied, his hands tied behind his back.

He could barely stand.

His heavy boots dragged on the rug.

He looked up at me, his eyes swollen.

“Don’t do it, boss,” Marcus muttered.

“Don’t give him… anything.”

One of the men struck him in the ribs with a pistol butt.

Marcus gasped and fell to his knees.

“That’s enough,” I said, my voice rising.

Caleb looked at me, waiting.

“Sign,” he repeated.

I looked at Marcus on the floor.

I looked at the documents.

The pen felt heavy in my fingers.

Suddenly, the lights in the study flickered.

The generator in the basement hummed, then died.

The room went completely dark.

“What the hell?” Caleb muttered.

A gunshot shattered the silence from the front yard.