“You’re going to burn alive, out here, in terrible, unimaginable agony,” Sebastian said. “That’s so much more satisfying than my original plan of shredding you to pieces with my AR-15. My only regret is not being able to stay here and savor the moment.”

Sebastian got to his feet and jogged back to the Bugatti, the surrounding fires devouring the vegetation and trees. He glanced a couple of times over his shoulder, saw Paul army crawl limply across the dirt. There was no way he was going to make it out of here alive.

Now Sebastian had to work on a new problem: finding a way home to see his daughter. The Bugatti wouldn’t make it to LA. He’d have to find another ride. It didn’t bother him, because he had Grace. She was the priority now. Grace and Ava and their new—

A gunshot behind him, and Sebastian felt something hard and sharp slam into his back. He stumbled forward as he heard more gunshots, felt at least two more rounds slam into his back and one into his leg as he dropped to the ground.

The vest, he thought. The vest he’d been wearing absorbed the shots—although it sure as shit didn’t feel like it. He scrambled to his feet, stumbling, and when he turned he saw Paul holding a handgun. Paul fired again, missed, as Sebastian brought up the AR. He was about to shoot when he thought he heard the crack of a rifle report coming from somewhere behind him.

CHAPTER 52

THE MOMENT SEBASTIAN drove away to go after Paul, Ellie considered her job done. She turned her attention to getting Grace safely to the Range Rover—getting her home and getting in touch with Roland.

The young woman was clearly on something. Her thighs and arms were scraped and cut and bleeding from having fallen to the ground, but her face was serene. When Ellie grabbed her arm, Grace didn’t fight her. She had the first time, when Ellie ran to her. Grace screamed and tried to fight her off, relaxed after Ellie said, “I’m working with your father. Come with me.”

Ellie led the woman across the backyard, heading toward a cluster of trees in front of the stone wall, when she heard a car engine racing somewhere behind her. She thought it was Sebastian—he had literally just left—but when she turned, she saw a compact black SUV tearing out of the garage.

Ellie dropped to her knees, taking Grace down with her. Placed a hand over the young woman’s mouth and then watched the SUV—it was a Mercedes—come screaming down the driveway. It slowed a bit as it reached the gate, and in the interior glow coming from the dashboard controls Ellie saw a man behind the wheel—Bradley Guidry, she was sure. She caught just a flash of his face before the Mercedes turned left, heading in the same direction as Sebastian.

The SUV tore into the street, skidding as it turned, tires peeling and smoking against the pavement. The driver killed the lights—He’s got to be wearing night-vision googles, she thought. That’s the only way he can see—and raced after Paul and Sebastian.