By the time Grace Walker realized every man in the courtyard had stopped talking, the estate gates had already closed behind her.

Grace stared at the massive steel door, the truth finally dawning on her with terrifying clarity.

"A Moretti and a Walker," she repeated softly. "That’s why Vance needed both of us."

"Yes," Samuel said. "Without Luca’s DNA and your DNA combined in the lock mechanism, the vault will trigger an internal incendiary charge that destroys every ledger and document inside, leaving Vance with nothing."

Before Luca could respond, a sudden, heavy metallic thud echoed from the top of the bunker stairs.

The emergency lights in the underground bunker flickered and turned crimson as a harsh siren began to blare.

"They're here," Samuel said, his face darkening instantly.

Luca drew his sidearm, moving swiftly to the base of the stairs, positioning himself in front of Grace and Samuel. Titan stood beside Luca, his lips drawn back over his massive teeth, a deep, terrifying growl echoing in his chest.

Heavy footsteps descended the concrete steps.

Stepping into the subterranean light was Arthur Vance. He looked gaunt and pale, wearing an expensive wool overcoat over a medical brace, his eyes sunken and filled with a feverish, desperate madness. Behind him stood six heavily armed security operatives holding assault rifles.

"Samuel," Vance rasped, his voice sounding like dry paper rubbing together. "Twelve years... and you were hiding under a pile of rotted oak leaves right down the road."

Samuel stepped forward, shielding Grace behind his broad frame. "It was far enough to keep my daughter away from a monster like you, Vance."

Vance’s hollow eyes drifted to Luca, then to Grace. A sinister, triumphant grin spread across his withered lips.

"And now you've brought everyone together for me," Vance chuckled darkly, coughing violently into a silk handkerchief. "The Moretti heir. The master craftsman. The daughter. All under one roof."

"You won't get what's inside that vault, Vance," Luca warned, his weapon trained directly on Vance's chest. "My security forces are already tracking your position. State police will be here in ten minutes."

"State police are paid for by my holdings, boy," Vance sneered. "Now... step up to the vault door. Both of you."

One of Vance’s operatives stepped forward, pressing the barrel of an assault rifle directly against the back of Samuel’s head.

"If either of you refuses," Vance threatened coldly, "I will shoot Samuel Walker right here in front of his daughter. Then I'll take Grace’s hand and force her blood into the scanner myself."

Grace felt her stomach twist into a tight knot of sheer panic. She looked at Luca.