Claire's mother screamed.

Adrian moved faster than anyone.

But Julian raised empty hands.

"No weapon."

Vincent appeared from the hallway.

His gun pointed directly at Julian.

Julian smiled.

"Still babysitting my little brother, Vincent?"

"Inside."

"No."

Adrian stopped several feet away.

Claire stood behind him.

She hated that position.

She stepped beside him instead.

Julian noticed.

"Interesting."

Claire stared.

"What did you mean?"

"About what?"

"The woman Adrian was supposed to kill."

Adrian turned toward her.

"I don't know what he's talking about."

Julian smiled.

"That's technically true."

Claire looked at him.

"Explain."

Julian held out the envelope.

"This does."

Vincent took it first.

He checked it.

Then handed it to Claire.

Inside was a photograph.

Claire's mother.

Twenty years younger.

Pregnant.

Beside her stood Dominic Vale.

Claire's stomach dropped.

"What is this?"

Her mother began crying.

"Claire."

Claire turned.

"No."

"Please."

"No more half-truths."

Her mother nodded.

"Dominic helped me disappear while your father dismantled the network."

Adrian stared.

"My father?"

"He wasn't always the man he became."

Julian laughed.

"That's generous."

Claire looked at the photograph.

"Why was Adrian supposed to kill someone?"

Julian answered.

"Because after Dominic died, the organization demanded proof of loyalty from his heir."

Adrian went still.

"I remember."

Claire looked at him.

He stared at Julian.

"They gave me a name."

"Yes."

"You told me she'd already fled."

"I lied."

"Who was she?"

Julian looked at Claire's mother.

Claire understood before anyone spoke.

"No."

Her mother whispered, "Me."

Claire turned toward Adrian.

He looked devastated.

"I didn't know."

"I know."

"You were supposed to kill my mother?"

"I refused the assignment before I knew who she was."

Julian's smile faded.

"That's why I knew Adrian wasn't Dominic."

Claire stared.

Julian continued.

"Dominic would have done it."

Adrian looked at his brother.

"Why are you here?"

"To finish what I started twelve years ago."

"The network?"

"Destroy it."

Thomas entered the room.

"Don't believe him."

Julian turned.

"Thomas Bennett. The dead man himself."

Thomas raised his gun.

Vincent immediately shifted.

Claire stepped forward.

"Everybody stop pointing guns."

No one moved.

Claire shouted.

"Now!"

Adrian lowered his first.

Vincent followed.

Thomas hesitated.

Claire looked at him.

"Dad."

He lowered it.

Julian laughed softly.

"You really do have them trained."

Claire glared.

"Don't make me add you to the list."

For the first time, Julian looked genuinely amused.

Adrian almost smiled.

Then Thomas spoke.

"Julian has killed people."

Julian's amusement vanished.

"So have you."

"I know."

Claire looked between them.

"Wonderful. Any other family bonding facts?"

Julian stepped inside.

"I've spent twelve years inside Margaret's organization."

"Working for her?"

"Making her believe I was."

Thomas shook his head.

"You expect us to believe that?"

"No."

Julian looked at Adrian.

"I expect my brother to verify it."

He gave Vincent a flash drive.

"Everything Margaret has done for twelve years."

Adrian took it.

"Why now?"

"Because Margaret discovered the ledger is real."

Claire looked at the envelope.

"And why me?"

Julian's expression changed.

"Because your name isn't in it."

"What?"

"The ledger contains everyone Dominic thought mattered."

"So?"

"Your mother is there. Thomas. Me. Adrian. Margaret."

Julian looked directly at Claire.

"But not you."

Claire didn't understand.

"Why does that matter?"

"Because Dominic wasn't protecting the ledger from Margaret."

"Who was he protecting?"

Julian looked toward Adrian.

"Claire."

Silence.

Adrian frowned.

"She was a child."

"Exactly."

Julian removed another photograph.

Dominic held baby Claire.

On the back:

SHE ENDS IT.

Claire stared.

"What does that mean?"

Thomas sat down.

"I hoped we'd never have to tell you."

Claire's patience snapped.

"Tell me what?"

Thomas looked at her.

"The original shipping company wasn't owned by the Vales."

Adrian turned.

"What?"

"It belonged to Claire's grandfather."

Claire stared.

Thomas continued.

"Your mother's father."

Claire's mother closed her eyes.

"He built the legitimate company. Dominic and Thomas expanded it."

"So?"

"When the criminal network infiltrated it, your grandfather created a legal trust."

Julian smiled faintly.

"Claire inherited controlling ownership when she turned thirty."

Claire froze.

Her thirtieth birthday was three weeks away.

Adrian understood.

"Margaret can't permanently control the shipping network while Claire lives."

Thomas nodded.

"That's why she's here."

Claire felt cold.

"So this isn't about kidnapping me."

"No," Thomas said.

"It's about killing you."

Adrian's entire posture changed.

Claire saw something terrifying surface.

She touched his arm.

"Rule seven."

He looked down.

Don't become your father.

His breathing slowed.

He nodded.

"Okay."

Julian watched them.

"That's fascinating."

"Stop saying that," Claire snapped.

Adrian turned toward Julian.

"How do we end this?"

"Federal investigators."

Thomas laughed.

"Half the local offices are compromised."

"Not local."

Julian gave them a name.

Rebecca Shaw.

Federal prosecutor.

Clean.

Uncompromised.

Waiting for the ledger.

Claire looked around.

"Then give it to her."

Thomas shook his head.

"We don't have it."

Claire frowned.

"You said it was in my apartment."

"It was."

"Was?"

"Margaret got there first."

Julian shook his head.

"No."

Everyone turned.

"She didn't find it."

"How do you know?"

"Because I searched after she left."

Claire remembered her apartment.

Her father had hidden something there years ago.

"Where?"

Thomas looked at her.

"I put it inside something no thief would take."

Claire suddenly remembered.

The old silver music box.

Her father had given it to her before his supposed death.

She'd kept it for seventeen years.

"It isn't at my apartment."

Thomas stared.

"Where is it?"

Claire swallowed.

"I brought it with me."

Adrian went still.

"To South Carolina?"

"It was in a box of Dad's things Mom asked me to bring."

Claire's mother nodded.

"It's upstairs."

Everyone looked toward the staircase.

Then the lights went out.

Vincent cursed.

Glass shattered.

Adrian grabbed Claire's hand.

"Stay with me."

This time she didn't argue.

A scream came from upstairs.

Claire's mother.

Then footsteps.

Adrian and Claire ran.

They reached the bedroom.

The window was open.

Claire's mother stood beside the bed, shaking.

The music box was gone.

On the pillow was Adrian's phone.

His Notes app was open.

Someone had added an eighth rule.

IF YOU LOVE HER, COME ALONE.

Below it was an address.

Adrian stared.

Claire read the final line.

BRING CLAIRE, AND SHE DIES.