The lock clicked.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Like whoever was on the other side knew exactly what they were doing.
“Back,” Marco said, his gun already up. “Get behind me. Now.”
I scooped Ella up. Ria was already pressed to my side, her small hand fisted in my shirt.
Vince tried to push himself up from the cot. “Ava. Get down.”
“I can’t,” I whispered. “Not this time.”
The door opened an inch.
Then stopped.
Chain.
A man’s eye appeared in the gap. Brown. Tired. Not Michael’s.
“Ms. Moretti?” he said. Low. “It’s me. Deputy Alvarez. US Marshals.”
Rodriguez was already at the door, peering through. “Alvarez? What the hell are you doing here?”
“Lockdown protocol,” he said. “We got word there’s a breach. I’m supposed to move you to secure transport. Now.”
Marco d
