Arthur Ashcroft’s words lingered long after he stopped speaking.
“He went willingly.”
Amelia wanted to dismiss them as another calculated lie. Arthur had manipulated people for decades. He understood that the quickest way to destroy an alliance was not through violence but through doubt.
Still, the accusation settled somewhere deep inside her.
Had Adrian known more than he had admitted?
The two guards exchanged a glance before one of them stepped forward.
“We have to leave.”
Amelia did not move.
“Not until you tell me where Adrian is.”
“We don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.” The older guard met her gaze evenly. “But I expect you to believe this. If we stay here another five minutes, none of us will leave.”
Behind them, alarms continued to pulse through the under
