“They lied to you,” I said.

“They’re going to leave you here to die with me.”

A loud explosion echoed from the outer cellar door.

The sound was deafening, filling the narrow vault with dust.

The mercenaries were inside.

I heard footsteps running down the main corridor.

They were fast, heavy, and organized.

I looked at the device, then at the wires running into the beam.

There were four wires: two red, one blue, one yellow.

My phone rang again in my pocket.

I pulled it out with my free hand and answered it.

“Adrian,” the voice said again.

“I’m listening,” I said.

“Your time is running out,” the voice said.

“We can make a deal,” I said. “I have the keycard.”

“The keycard is useless to you now,” the voice said.

“We have the girl.”

My heart stopped.

“Lila?” I whispered.

“She is safe for now,” the voice said. “But only if you let the house burn.”

“Let me speak to her,” I demanded.

“No,” the voice said. “You have three minutes.”

The line clicked and went dead.

I looked at the timer on the keycard.