Page 76 of Bound

Rafe drags the old schematic across the screen.

Bachman Avenue. Daughtry Clothiers. Clara’s Children’s Boutique. Bachman’s.

A ring of luxury built around a secret.

“The Village was hidden behind the backs of those buildings,” Gregory continues. “No rear windows. No normal exits. Each Bachman-owned shop had a concealed access point in the back. Office, storeroom, cloakroom. A blocked exit only family could use.”

The gates are wide enough for our cars and each car is programmed with a sensor that automatically opens the gate, like our thumbprint. Which leads to a second gate. Which leads to our Village.

The businesses and shops that form the square are all owned by Bachmans.

They all have blocked exits, accessible only to our family.

My stomach drops. “Bachman Jewelers had one too,” I say.

Rafe nods. “Behind the back office.”

Lucian’s face turns deadly still.

“It leads to a black gate,” Gregory says. “Then a second gate. Then the Village.”

Blaze leans over the screen. “So Carlos doesn’t need to break through the front.”

“No,” Rafe says. “He needs the system to believe a Bachman is coming home.”

Gregory points to the blinking line beneath the jewelers’ floor plan.

“The twelve-second delay isn’t opening one gate,” he says. “It’s waking the old family route.”

Lucian looks toward the half-built Village beyond the glass.

“Bachman Jewelers,” he says quietly.

Not a store.

A door.

And Carlos had found the handle.

“Gregory?” My voice is clear.

Gregory looks up. “Confirmed.”

The world narrows to one building that I can see from where I stand.

“Mack.” I look at him. “Closer.”

Mack moves to her shoulder. Erin opens her mouth. I look at her. “Do not.”

Her mouth closes.

The second miracle today.

I turn to Erin. “Stay visible. Stay alive. Do not make me return to an empty space.”

Her eyes soften. “I’ll be here.”

“I love you,” I say, holding her face in my hands.