Adrian was already moving before the image finished loading.

He called the estate security chief, Frank Delaney.

“Someone is in my mother’s study.”

“I’m checking now.”

“Don’t confront them alone.”

“I’ve got two men with me.”

Adrian glanced back at Mara’s room.

She was awake.

Watching him.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Someone’s at the house.”

Her face drained.

“The safe?”

“Yes.”

“Adrian, the bottom panel.”

“What?”

“The safe has a false bottom.”

His chest tightened.

“How do you know?”

“Your mother showed me.”

“And you waited until now to tell me?”

“I didn’t know whether it was still there.”

He rubbed a hand across his face.

“Mara—”

“She trusted me because she didn’t trust anyone else.”

The words landed hard.

Not anyone else.

Not even him.

He hated that.

He hated that grief had turned him into someone people protected from the truth.

His phone rang.

Frank.

“We’re in the study.”

“And?”

“No one’s here.”

“I saw someone.”

“There’s a window open.”

Adrian closed his eyes.

The study was on the ground floor.

Easy exit.

“What about the safe?”

Frank went quiet.

“What?”

“There’s damage inside.”

Adrian looked at Mara.

“Bottom panel?” he asked.

Frank answered, “Looks like somebody pried something up.”

Mara sat upright despite the pain.

“Oh no.”

“What was there?” Adrian demanded.

She shook her head.

“Eleanor never told me.”

Vanessa appeared in the hospital hallway.

Adrian stared.

She walked toward them in a cream coat, composed and polished as if it were afternoon, not nearly two in the morning.

“I came to see if Mara was okay.”

Mara’s mouth opened.

Adrian stepped into the doorway.

“How did you know which hospital?”

Vanessa stopped.

“You texted me.”

“No, I didn’t.”

Her eyes flickered.

Then she smiled.

“You must have. I saw the message.”

“Show me.”

“Adrian, this is ridiculous.”

“Show me.”

Vanessa reached into her purse.

Nothing.

She searched another pocket.

Still nothing.

Then she sighed.

“Fine. Frank told me.”

Adrian’s phone was still connected.

Frank heard her.

“Mr. Cole,” he said immediately, “I have not spoken to Ms. Hart tonight.”

Vanessa went still.

Adrian lowered the phone.

“Who told you?”

Her jaw tightened.

No answer.

Behind him, Mara whispered, “She knew because she sent whoever was in that study.”

Vanessa’s expression finally cracked.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Mara stared at her. “I almost died.”

Vanessa stepped forward.

“So did Eleanor.”

Adrian’s blood went cold.

Vanessa realized what she had said.

Too late.

Mara whispered, “You never told her about Dr. Larkin.”

Adrian looked at Vanessa.

“Why did you say my mother almost died?”

Silence.

Then Vanessa’s phone rang.

The screen lit up.

One name appeared.

DR. LARKIN.