Despite the blood on his face, his eyes were steady and cold.

“Don’t give him anything, Claire,” Liam said. “He’s bankrupt. He has nothing left.”

Ethan kicked Liam’s shin.

Liam groaned but didn’t fall.

“I have everything left,” Ethan snarled, turning back to me. “I built Apex from nothing.”

“I am not letting a couple of bureaucrats and my hysterical wife take it away.”

He waved his hand to his men.

“I’m taking him with me,” Ethan said.

“No!” I screamed. “Take me instead! Leave him out of this!”

“You’re too slippery, Claire,” Ethan said, shaking his head.

“If I take you, you’ll find a way to lock me out of something else.”

“But if I keep Liam, you’ll do exactly what I say.”

He leaned in close, his eyes wide and wild.

“You have twenty-four hours to hand over the master keys,” he said.

“I will contact you with the location.”

“If you call the police, if you call the FBI, I will know.”

“And Liam will pay the price.”

He nodded to his men.

“Get him out of here,” Ethan ordered.