“Hunter,” Lorenzo said.

“I am here,” I whispered.

“The baby,” he said, turning his head toward the crib.

I walked to the white wooden bars and looked down.

Leo was still sleeping, his tiny fists curled near his chin.

His breathing was still shallow, his chest rising and falling too fast.

“He is still here,” I said. “He is safe for now.”

On the desk, the security monitor began to flicker.

A high-pitched hum filled the room as the backup generators fully engaged.

The dull red emergency light vanished, replaced by the bright, white glare of the overhead lamps.

The main terminal screen on the wall rebooted, lines of green code scrolling down the black glass.

*SYSTEM ONLINE,* the green letters read.

*SECURE PERIMETER ACTIVE.*

Lorenzo walked to the console, his boots clicking on the floor.

He tapped the screen with a bloody finger, bringing up the external camera feeds.

“The gates are locked down,” Lorenzo said.

“Nothing leaves the compound.”

He tapped another icon, bringing up the courtyard view.

Two of his personal guards were already running across the wet gravel toward the main entrance.