“We don’t need his money, Mom,” Madison said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “We have each other.”

I looked at my sister, proud of how strong she had become.

She was no longer the frightened girl hiding in the library.

She was the one who had helped me break the encryption that brought down an empire.

We drove back to the estate in silence.

The grand gates were chained shut, secured by federal seizure notices.

We parked outside the perimeter and walked up the gravel driveway.

The dry leaves crunched under my boots.

The grand ballroom, once filled with laughter and expensive wine, was dark and empty.

The furniture was covered in white sheets, looking like ghosts in the dim light.

I walked to the French doors leading to the balcony.

The glass had been repaired, but the wooden frames still bore the scars of the raid.

“What will you do now, Natalie?” Madison asked, standing beside me.

“I’m returning to active duty on Monday,” I said. “My unit is deploying to Europe.”

“Will you come back?” she asked.