My throat felt tight, and the air in the penthouse suddenly felt very cold.

“I have compiled the real ledger sheets and given them to Eleanor,” the letter continued.

“She is the only one I can trust to keep them safe until you are strong enough to face him.”

“If you are reading this, it means he has succeeded in silencing me, but he must not silence the truth.”

“I am so sorry I could not protect you from the storm that is coming.”

“Please forgive me, Claire.”

My fingers trembled against the bottom of the page.

A single tear hit the heavy paper, darkening the blue ink.

She had known what he was capable of, and she had tried to shield me.

Instead of running, she had left me the tools to fight back, hidden with her oldest friend.

“The elevator is coming up now,” Gabriel said quietly, standing near the glass doors of the entryway.

I folded the letter and slipped it back into the heavy envelope.

I tucked it securely inside my coat pocket, resting my hand over it to keep it still.