She looked down at me, her eyes filling with tears she refused to let fall.

“And they reminded her that a prison ward is no place to raise a newborn baby.”

Luke’s hand shook slightly where it rested on my bed frame.

“My father,” Luke whispered, his voice dangerously quiet.

“Or Vivian,” Marco added.

“Either way, it came from the top,” Nadia said.

She crossed her arms, her shoulders tense under her damp jacket.

“That is why she went into hiding.”

“She thought if she disappeared, the threats would stop.”

“But they didn’t,” she added.

I reached out, my fingers brushing the edge of the manila envelope on the table.

My voice was barely a whisper when I finally spoke.

“Nadia,” I croaked.

She immediately leaned over me, taking my cold hand in both of her warm ones.

“I’m here, El,” she said.

“The envelope,” I whispered. “Is it inside?”

Nadia nodded slowly.

She reached into the outer pocket of her tote bag and pulled out a small, clear plastic pouch.

Inside the pouch was a heavy brass key.