I reached down, grabbed his collar, and pulled him forward.

“They aren’t coming to rescue you,” I said. “They set a forty-five-second timer with you in the room.”

Caleb’s gaze drifted to the frozen red numbers on the display.

“They knew you were down here,” I said. “They wanted you dead too.”

A flicker of doubt passed over Caleb’s face.

“They wouldn’t,” Caleb whispered.

“They did,” I said. “You’re a loose end, Caleb. Just like Elena was.”

Caleb’s breathing became shallow.

He looked at the door, then back at me.

“I built this estate,” I said. “I know every stone. You know I will leave you here when that timer starts again.”

“Adrian,” Daniel called out. “They’re bringing something else up the stairs. It sounds heavy.”

“Marcus, watch the door,” I commanded.

I leaned closer to Caleb, my face inches from his.

“Who has the coordinates to my secure vaults?” I asked.

Caleb swallowed hard, his dry throat clicking.

The silence in the cellar grew heavier as the seconds ticked away in our minds.

Suddenly, the phone in my pocket began to vibrate again.