He spit blood onto the floor and laughed.

“Go ahead,” he said.

“Run into the woods.”

“My men are already there.”

Marcus burst into the pantry, his rifle raised.

He looked at the dead mercenary, then at the man in the suit.

“We have to go,” Marcus said.

“The SUVs are at the front gate.”

“They are breaching the main doors.”

“Take Nora,” I said.

“Use the library passage.”

“It leads to the carriage house.”

“Get her into the sedan and get out of here.”

“What about you?” Marcus asked.

“I’m going to the dock,” I said.

“I have the key.”

“Adrian, no,” Nora cried.

“It’s a trap.”

“They want you down there.”

“They have my daughter, Nora,” I said.

“There is no other choice.”

I turned and ran out of the kitchen.

I did not use the passages this time.

I ran straight through the dining room and out the french doors.

The rain hit me like a wall of ice.

The wind was howling now, bending the pine trees.

I ran down the stone steps toward the woods.