A flood of bright light poured into the room, blinding me.

Figures in dark tactical gear surged through the entrance.

“Get down on the ground,” a voice shouted.

Victoria slowly raised her hands, but her eyes never left mine.

“This isn’t over, Natalie,” she whispered.

I felt a hand touch my shoulder, but I couldn’t see who it was.

The pain in my abdomen flared one more time, and the world began to go black around the edges.

Through the darkness, I heard the sound of more sirens approaching.

I held the ledger to my chest as the light faded.

The hands on my shoulders were warm and firm.

“Ma’am, can you hear me?” a paramedic asked, his face a blur of white and blue.

I gripped the leather of the ledger tighter against my chest.

“Don’t take it,” I whispered, my throat dry.

“We’re federal agents, Mrs. Callahan,” a different voice said from above.

“Secure the book,” another agent barked.

I looked past them through the glare of the tactical lights.

Two agents forced Julian down onto the cold concrete.