He took a step toward me, his hand still inside his pocket.

“You lied to me,” he said, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl.

“I protected what was mine,” I replied.

The sound of the footsteps downstairs grew louder, moving toward the grand staircase.

They were heavy, deliberate, and numerous.

“State Police!” a voice boomed from the foyer, echoing up the stairwell. “Remain where you are!”

Yasmin grabbed Gillian’s arm, pulling her toward the closet.

“The back stairs,” Yasmin whispered, her voice trembling. “Through the kitchen.”

“They’ll have the perimeter covered, Yasmin,” Mark said without looking at her.

His eyes were fixed entirely on me.

“You think you won,” he whispered, stepping closer to the bed.

“I know I did,” I said, keeping my gaze level with his.

The floorboards outside the bedroom creaked.

A bright beam of a flashlight swept across the hallway, cutting through the shadows.

“Mark,” Yasmin pleaded, her hand on the doorknob of the adjoining dressing room. “We have to go.”

Mark didn’t move.

He pulled his hand from his pocket, revealing a small, black key ring.