Chapter 55

Blake yanked Vespera out of the chair and dragged her toward the stairs. She followed without resistance. His phone buzzed persistently in his pocket. Dominic and Gerard had most likely already realized something was wrong—and maybe even pinpointed who was behind it. Perhaps… they were closing in. Blake led her up the creaking steps. At the top of the stairs, he flicked the light switch, but the room remained dark. Cursing under his breath, he searched for his phone. With a frustrated grunt, he declined the incoming call and switched on the flashlight. Meanwhile, Vespera kept her eyes trained on the second floor. The corridor stretched ahead, a long, narrow passage with windows on either side. The old double-hung windows were mostly intact, except for one, where the glass had shattered. From the angle of the entrance below and the breeze that filtered in through the broken window, she knew it faced the sea. It was her only chance to escape. She deliberately stumbled, her body t