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Instead, I crossed to the window. The driveway lay empty.

No taxi.

No Nyssa.

My chest tightened. My hand twitched toward my phone. One call. That’s all it’d take. But I made a promise. No cages. No taking away her choice.

I let my hand fall. My phone vibrated. Hope hit me so hard it almost hurt.

Please let it be her.

I snatched it from my pocket as Mrs. Reid stepped into the study carrying fresh coffee and fruit. I lifted my hand. Stared at the screen and my heart sank.

Not Nyssa.

I answered. “Yes.”

Static answered me first. I lifted my phone away. The call was still connected. Then…

“Mr. Voss?”

“Malek?”

Something in his voice made my spine straighten.

Not panic.

No. More like restraint.

The kind a man used when he didn’t want to be overheard.

“I’ve got something here.”

“What?”

“A package.” Silence. “It was left twenty minutes ago.”

My pulse slowed. My thoughts went to Nyssa, counting the minutes between us. “Who delivered it?”

“I don’t know.” Another pause. “It has your name.”

“My name?”

“No.” A breath. “The Revenant.”

The room became very still. Mrs. Reid looked up. I said nothing.

She left. Heavy, rhythmic steps headed this way. A murmur as they passed, then Rafe came into view as he stepped into the study.

Malek continued, “I haven’t touched what’s inside.”

“You opened it?”

“I had to.”

“What is it?”

Paper shifted against the phone. “A photograph.”