He stepped into the room, the scent of expensive tobacco and rain clinging to his heavy wool coat.

He walked to the window, looking out over the manicured lawns of his estate.

“My men saw an black sedan idling near the south gate an hour ago,” he said without turning.

My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my breathing steady.

“Did they catch who it was?” I asked.

“No,” Vincent said. “It sped off when the guard approached.”

He turned to face me, his expression unreadable in the dim lamplight.

“Derek is getting desperate,” he said. “But you are safe here. No one gets past my security.”

“I know,” I said. “Thank you, Vincent.”

“Do not thank me yet,” he said, stepping closer. “The ledger is the only thing keeping you valuable to me. Remember that.”

“I haven’t forgotten,” I said.

He nodded once, a cold, clinical gesture, and walked out, closing the door behind him.

I waited ten minutes, listening to the silence of the house.

Then I pulled the laptop out and hit the button to schedule the email.