He grabbed the brass handle and threw his weight against it.

It did not budge.

Above them, a heavy steel shutter slid down from the ceiling, sealing the entire entryway in a dark, metallic cage.

“No, no, no!” Vanessa shrieked, running toward the side exit that led to the terrace.

Before she could reach it, another steel plate slammed down with a deafening metallic thud.

The camera feed vibrated from the impact.

Julian spun around, drawing a heavy black handgun from beneath his coat.

He pointed it at the nearest security camera, his eyes wide with a mixture of rage and terror.

“Turn it off, Nathan!” Julian yelled at the ceiling. “Turn it off or I’ll blow this whole place to hell!”

Nathan didn’t move. He stood in the nursery doorway, watching the screen with a cold, detached expression.

“He can’t break those shutters,” Nathan said quietly. “They are rated for extreme weather and high-impact ballistic force.”

On the screen, Vanessa grabbed Julian’s arm, pulling him back toward the center of the atrium.

The ventilation vents in the atrium were now closed, sealing them in the central room.