It sounded like someone walking on the air ducts.

I looked up, my heart stopping.

“Adrian,” I whispered.

He put a finger to his lips.

He reached behind his back and drew a sleek, black handgun from his waistband.

He held it low, his finger resting along the guard.

He motioned for me to stay behind him.

We moved slowly, using the wine racks as cover.

The sound above us stopped.

A long moment of silence passed.

Then, my phone buzzed again in Adrian’s pocket.

The sound was incredibly loud in the quiet cellar.

Adrian didn’t reach for it.

He kept his eyes focused on the shadows ahead.

We reached the double doors that led to the garage.

Adrian reached out to push them open.

Before his hand could touch the metal bar, the electronic lock on the doors beeped.

The small LED light on the reader turned from green to red.

A metallic voice spoke from the wall unit.

“System locked by administrator,” the voice said.

Adrian frowned, his brow furrowing.

“That’s not possible,” he murmured. “I am the administrator.”