“What matters is the sixty seconds you have left to make a choice.”

“We can bypass your firewalls from here, but it takes time we don’t want to spend.”

“If you try to block the transfer, my associates inside the house will ensure your daughters do not see the sunrise.”

“My daughters?” Nathan gasped, his face losing all remaining color.

“If you touch them, I swear to God—”

“We have people in the eastern wing,” the voice interrupted.

“They are currently standing right outside the playroom.”

“All it takes is one simple command.”

“Step away from the keyboard, Nathan.”

The line went dead with a soft, synthetic click.

My hand was trembling so hard I almost dropped the phone onto the heavy oak desk.

Nathan didn’t hesitate.

He pushed back his leather chair, the metal casters screeching against the hardwood floor.

“The girls,” he whispered.

“They’re in the playroom.”

“Come on,” I said, grabbing a heavy brass flashlight from the desk drawer.

We bolted out of the private study and into the dimly lit corridor.

The storm outside was screaming, throwing heavy sheets of ice against the high glass windows of the gallery.