Vance swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

He reached slowly toward his pocket.

“Don’t,” Marco said, his hand sliding inside his own coat.

Vance froze, his hand dropping to his side.

“I was just getting my keys,” Vance muttered.

“You’re going to give me the digital ledger, Donald,” Marco said. “The one that shows who actually paid your fee.”

“I can’t do that,” Vance said, his voice trembling. “They’ll kill me.”

“My father will do worse than that if you don’t cooperate,” Luke’s voice suddenly came through Marco’s earpiece.

Marco had kept the line open, his phone secured in his breast pocket.

Luke was still sitting in his father’s study, the gold pen still in his hand, pretending to read the contract.

Arthur was watching him like a hawk, completely unaware of the wiretap.

“Sign it, Luke,” Arthur said, tapping his finger on the desk.

“I’m reading the indemnity clause,” Luke said aloud, his voice steady.

But in Marco’s ear, the message was clear.

Marco took another step toward the trembling notary.

“The ledger, Donald,” Marco repeated. “Now.”