Above me, the windows of the building were glowing orange, smoke billowing into the dark sky.

“Liam!” I called out, running toward the side of the building.

“Chloe!”

There was no answer.

I reached the corner of the building and stopped.

The front driveway was empty, except for a dark sedan parked near the gates.

The headlights were off, but the engine was idling.

And then, I saw her.

Beatrice was standing by the driver’s side door, her coat covered in soot.

She was arguing with someone inside the car.

“We have to go now, Darrow!” she was shouting over the sound of the flames.

“The whole place is going up!”

“What about the girl?” a man’s voice rasped from the dark interior.

“They’re dead,” Beatrice said coldly.

“No one is coming out of that.”

I clutched the ledger tighter, my knuckles turning white.

I had to get to the front to find Liam.

But as I took a step, a shadow detached itself from the side of the building.

A hand clamped over my mouth, and a strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into the darkness of the alley.