Caleb’s gun hand wavered, but Marcus slammed him against the damp stone wall before he could pull the trigger.

The weapon clattered to the dirt floor.

“Keep him quiet,” I growled, my heart pounding against my ribs.

“He’s not going anywhere, Adrian,” Marcus grunted, pinning Caleb’s arms behind his back.

Caleb spat blood onto the floor, but he didn’t stop grinning.

I turned toward the back of the cellar where the tapping was loudest.

*Tap. Tap. Tap.*

The faint, electronic beep grew sharper, echoing off the stone arches.

I reached the wooden partition wall and pressed my hands against the cold, rough timber.

“Nora, where is the latch?” I demanded.

She crawled forward on her knees, her voice trembling. “There is a loose block in the masonry, on the right side.”

I searched the mortar joints with my fingers until I felt a brick that moved.

I pulled it free, throwing it aside to reveal a small iron lever hidden behind the stone.

With a heavy pull, I yanked the lever downward.

The wooden partition shuddered, then slid back into a hidden recess with a dry scrape of wood on stone.