“Desperate men do desperate things.”

I felt a chill run down my spine.

I looked toward the hallway where Lily and Ethan were sleeping.

They were safe here, miles away from the city.

But the reach of the Mercer family felt very long tonight.

“I am hanging up now, Patricia,” I said.

“Don’t you dare,” she said.

“We are testing her tomorrow,” Patricia said, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“I know what Vanessa is. She wanted his money. If that baby isn’t a Mercer, she is out on the street.”

“And Daniel will have nothing left but you and the kids,” Patricia said.

“Think about that before you ruin him.”

I ended the call.

The kitchen was silent again.

The only sound was the refrigerator humming in the corner.

I stared at the black screen of my phone.

My heart was beating fast against my ribs.

I stood up and walked to the window.

The reflection of the kitchen light showed my own pale face in the glass.

I looked out into the dark yard.

The grass was wet from the ocean fog.