Caine’s voice was shaky, laced with guilt.
“Ryder… I’m so sorry,” he said. “I had to deceive you. I had no choice. My father—he was threatening me. I thought I could handle it, but I was wrong.”
I felt my jaw clench as I listened, my fingers curling into a fist on the table.
Caine swallowed hard. “I know I don’t deserve it, but if there’s any part of you that can forgive me… please do.” He let out a breath. “I don’t have much time. Listen carefully, Ryder. Go to the same church we went to before. You’ll find something there. It’s important. Make good use of it.”
His head suddenly snapped to the side, as if he heard something. His breathing grew heavy.
“They’re coming,” he whispered. Then his gaze turned desperate. “Ryder, no matter what, you have to go there. You must get those files.
