A flashlight beam cut through the dark, its bright circle of white light sweeping across the floor until it settled on Alexander’s face.

Alexander blinked against the glare, his eyes bloodshot, his jaw set in a hard, stubborn line.

“Luca,” Alexander said, his voice remarkably steady. “You are late for the family meeting.”

“The roads are bad, cousin,” Luca said, stepping fully into the room.

Behind him, two of the family’s trusted guards stood in the doorway, their trench coats dripping water onto the hardwood floor.

They held their weapons lowered, but their eyes were darting around the dark study.

“I came as soon as I heard the security system went down,” Luca continued, his flashlight beam shifting to Marcus, then to Dr. Voss. “It seems we have an intruder in the house.”

“The only intruder here is the one who cut the power,” Marcus said, his hand still hidden inside the desk drawer.

“Take your hand out of the drawer, Marcus,” Luca said, his tone dropping its friendly warmth. “We wouldn’t want an accident to happen in front of the doctor.”