At 2:16 a.m., Nora’s condition stabilized.

At 2:21, Dante received a message.

SULLIVAN RETURNED HOME. LIGHTS ON. TWO UNMARKED CARS OUTSIDE.

Dante showed Nora.

“You were right.”

“He’s waiting.”

“Then we don’t go.”

Nora shook her head.

“We need that drive.”

“We need you alive more.”

“Arthur will destroy it.”

Dante considered her words.

Then Sarah entered carrying a clear evidence bag.

“We found this sewn into the lining of Mrs. Sullivan’s coat.”

Inside was a tiny brass key.

Nora stared at it.

“Oh.”

Dante looked at her.

“What?”

“I forgot.”

“You forgot a key sewn into your coat?”

“I wasn’t exactly having a relaxing evening.”

“What does it open?”

Nora looked almost embarrassed.

“The music box.”

Dante picked up the bag.

“Good.”

“Dante, you still can’t go there.”

“I’m not going there.”

“Then who is?”

He smiled.

“Arthur.”

Nora frowned.

Three minutes later, Dante called a man named Vincent.

“I need eyes on Sullivan’s nursery.”

“Already pulled the exterior cameras.”

“Can you access the interior security system?”

“Give me ten minutes.”

“You have five.”

Four minutes later, Dante’s phone displayed a live feed.

Arthur Sullivan entered the nursery.

Nora sucked in a breath.

Arthur tore open drawers.

Pulled books from shelves.

Ripped cushions from a chair.

Then he stopped.

He saw the music box.

“No,” Nora whispered.

Arthur grabbed it.

He turned it upside down.

Nothing.

He tried to pry it open.

Nothing.

Dante looked at Nora.

“The key.”

“Yes.”

Arthur didn’t have it.

Dante smiled.

For the first time that night, Nora looked relieved.

Then Arthur took out his phone.

Vincent amplified the audio.

Arthur spoke.

“She has the key.”

A voice answered through the speaker.

“What about Corvino?”

“He’s at the hospital.”

“Then she told him.”

Arthur’s expression darkened.

“Not everything.”

Nora went pale.

Dante noticed.

“What does that mean?”

She didn’t answer.

“Nora.”

Her eyes stayed on the screen.

Arthur continued.

“Move the accounts before sunrise. And find Judge Mercer. If Nora gave Corvino the ledger, Mercer becomes our liability.”

Dante’s head snapped toward her.

“Judge Mercer?”

Nora nodded slowly.

“He helped Arthur bury cases.”

“Mine?”

“Some.”

Dante’s voice dropped.

“What haven’t you told me?”

Nora looked at him.

“That Arthur wasn’t working alone.”

“Who?”

“Your brother.”

Dante stopped breathing for a second.

“My brother is dead.”

“I know.”

“Then explain.”

“Before Gabriel died, he was feeding Arthur information about your organization.”

Dante stepped away.

“No.”

“I saw the payments.”

“You’re wrong.”

“I wish I were.”

Dante stared through the hospital window.

Gabriel had died three years earlier.

Dante had spent three years believing a rival family had arranged it.

“What else?”

“Gabriel discovered Arthur planned to replace him.”

“With whom?”

“Someone inside your organization.”

Dante turned.

“Name.”

“I don’t know. The ledger uses initials.”

“Which initials?”

Nora hesitated.

“MC.”

Dante’s face hardened.

Marco Costa.

His oldest friend.

The man currently commanding every guard outside Nora’s hospital room.

At that exact moment, Dante’s phone rang.

Marco.

Dante answered normally.

“Yes?”

“We have a problem.”

“What?”

“Sullivan just left his house.”

“Where’s he going?”

“We lost him.”

Dante’s gaze shifted toward the closed hospital door.

Marco continued.

“Boss?”

Dante said quietly, “Come upstairs.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

Dante ended the call.

Nora understood immediately.

“You think it’s Marco.”

“I think I’m going to give him a chance to prove it isn’t.”

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