Through the frosted glass of the front door, the dark silhouette of a man in a long coat was clearly visible.

Julian slowly closed the laptop screen, his hand resting on top of it.

The knock came again, louder this time, shaking the brass lock.

Julian reached behind his back, his hand slipping under his coat toward his belt.

I held my breath, my hand gripping the edge of the kitchen counter.

Mrs. Ramirez retreated toward the hallway, her slippers dragging softly against the linoleum.

The silhouette through the glass moved, its head tilting as if listening for sounds inside.

“Stay here,” Julian whispered.

He stepped toward the entryway, his movements silent and deliberate.

I grabbed his sleeve, my fingers catching the rough wool of his coat.

“Don’t,” I breathed. “If it’s Ethan’s men, they’ll be armed.”

“We don’t have a choice, Grace,” he said, gently pulling his arm away.

The knock came a third time, sharper now, followed by a heavy voice.

“Lake Forest Police. We’re checking on a report of a suspicious vehicle in the driveway.”

Julian stopped, his shoulders dropping slightly, though his posture remained tense.