Chapter 56

Sloane’s fists curled until her nails bit into her palms. Her face went ice-cold and her heart thudded like a trapped animal against bone. A tiny hand slipped into hers. Everything that had been red-hot anger and adrenaline cooled like ash. She looked down. Jeremy’s small face was serious, earnest, already trying to be braver than his years allowed. He pointed at Dominic with a solemn little nod, then made an exaggerated “come on” motion with his hand, the way children do when they mean business. Dominic, sitting now on a stool with a laptop open across his knees, didn’t look up. His long fingers, knuckled and fast, flicked over the keys. Lines of code scrolled like silver script. He moved as if the keyboard were an extension of his mind: quick, exact, terrifyingly confident. “Uncle is very powerful, Auntie. Don’t be afraid. Uncle… we will protect you.” Jeremy’s voice was small but stubborn. Sloane drew in a breath. For the first time since the hacker’s voice had slithered over the spe