Calloway chuckled. “And yet those chains made him useful.”
My father’s hands curled into fists.
Calloway continued. “Bring the drive to the old courthouse by noon. Come alone, Evelyn. Your father and mother remain behind. If I see police, Samuel disappears. If I see Jonathan, Nathaniel disappears.”
I looked at Mara.
She was already shaking her head.
“No,” she mouthed.
I said, “Fine.”
Calloway sounded pleased. “Good girl.”
The call ended.
Adrian, who had been silent by the door, finally spoke.
“You can’t go alone.”
I turned on him so fast he stepped back.
“You do not get to advise me.”
His face crumpled. “Evelyn, I didn’t know he’d take Samuel.”
“But you knew enough to open the door.”
“I thought Celeste wanted money.”
“You thought Celeste wanted what you wanted.”
He looked down.
For the first time since the hospital, he seemed small.
Not powerful. Not cruel. Just small.
