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searching my voice out in the dark. I imagined his eyes would be wild with fear and uncertainty.
    “Who’s there?” He tried to sound unfazed, but it lacked the luster from four years ago. All I heard was desperation to know who had intruded.
    “Or is it Mr. Martin? You favor false identity if I remember correctly.” If I weren’t so alert to my surroundings, I would have missed the way his breath caught.
    “Impossible.”
    “Oh?”
    “Why are you here and not my son? He got you doing his dirty work for him now? Didn’t think he had it him,” he answered before I could. I detected a hint of pride among the malicious intent of his taunt.
    “He doesn’t know I’m here.” It was hard to catch, but a smile slowly spread across his withering face.
    “Bad mistake, little girl. I admit, I don’t know my son well, but a blind fool could tell he likes control—most of all, of you. You lied to him.”
    “I did.”
    “I’m flattered.” His voice was bitter when he spoke again. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”
    “My presence will be anything but pleasurable for you.”
    “My, my, how you’ve grown.” He was smiling again. “He has sunk his claws into you, hasn’t he?”
    “This isn’t about me, Mitch.” I felt the pain from my teeth grinding and bit down harder, doing anything to keep him from making me run.
    “On the contrary, pet. It has everything to do with you. You’re here, and he doesn’t know it. You snuck away to see me. Do you think my son will give a damn what your purpose is?”
    “He won’t find out.”
    “He will. I’ve kept eyes on him long enough to know where his obsession lies. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has eyes on you right now. Come here, girl. I’ll make this worth the pain you’ll feel when he finds out you betrayed him.”
    But it wasn’t betrayal. I was here to protect him. If not me, it would be Keiran standing in this room. Mitch would already be dead, and Keiran would face the rest of his life in prison if he were caught.
    I inched closer to the bed watching Mitch warily. His bloodshot eyes came into clear view as he watched me, too. His skin was pale and too weathered for even his age. He was no longer the strikingly handsome man he once was.
    “I hear my brother died.”
    “Yes. I’m sure you had something to do with that.” I blinked away tears for John. Tears that Keiran failed to shed for his uncle. I shifted from one foot and then quickly shifted to the other. Each minute that passed, I drew closer to getting caught. I should have already been gone.
    “I won’t deny it,” he smugly drawled. I sucked in a breath and hated that he noticed. “Though I regret to inform you my involvement was… indirect.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “The man who I’m sure killed John was hired by me for a different job.”
    “What job?” He didn’t need to answer, though. I realized the answer as soon as I voiced it and felt rage transform my body. I welcomed it and channeled it to my mind. I needed to go through with this.
    “My grandniece.” His eyes sparkled with a sick sense of pride over what he’d done.
    “Or your grandchild,” I corrected. Just as quickly, the light in his eyes was extinguished, and he was glaring back at me with the same disdain I showered on him.
    “So I’ve heard.”
    “You’re pathetic,” I blurted.
    “I never asked for him. He is worthless to me! I already had my meal ticket until his whore mother stole it from me.”
    “He’s a person. Your son. He’s not the answer to your sick perversion of happiness.”
    “You think money is a perversion? Have you ever had millions upon millions, little girl? Anyone would have done what I did if given the chance.”
    “Keep telling yourself that. But where has it gotten you? You’re dying, and there’s no amount of money that can change it. Chances are, if you had succeeded, you would have gambled it all away by now, and you’d still be dying.”
    “I