Quinn was silent, but her fear was a beacon, her shaking breath giving him information with every passing second. Footsteps approached, slow and steady on the wooden floors.

He could also feel whoever was frightening her. Even breaths, pure confidence. There had to be a weapon of some sort, for Quinn to be this pliant.

“See?” she said loudly. “They’re gone already.”

Please, Quinn, Nick thought. Please don’t be stupid. He tried not to think of Michael’s stories of what Silver had done to Hunter’s girlfriend Kate. The torture, the final bullet to the head.

Was this Silver? Had he escaped from prison?

He begged the air for answers, stretching his senses far.

“They’re here,” said a male voice.

Adam went very still. He held his breath.

“Come on out,” said the man. No British accent. Not Silver.

But definitely a Guide.

Nick didn’t move. There had to be a way out of this.

Had to be.

He tried not to think of his brothers. Had this guy gone after them first? Were his brothers dead and he didn’t know it?

Not likely, if they were all together.

Then he remembered his conversation with Michael. They were scattered. That could mean anything.

And not just scattered. Scattered remotely. Gabriel would be home alone—with no Nick to warn of danger approaching. Chris and Michael were working a job, and if they were finishing the one Nick and Michael had skipped last night, it was a massive yard away from any other houses. Sitting ducks.

Hell, if the Guide took out Nick and Gabriel, he wouldn’t even have to go looking for Chris and Michael. He could just wait for them to come home.

“You’ve already given me proof,” said the man. “I know this girl is innocent. There is no need for her to die.”

Think, Nick. God, what the hell use was his GPA if he couldn’t think of a way out of here?

“Come out now,” said the man. “Three seconds and she dies.” He didn’t hesitate. “Three . . . Two . . .”

“Nick!” Quinn’s voice, high and panicked.

“Okay!” Nick shoved Adam down and stood, revealing himself. He didn’t recognize this guy at all.

But he recognized the danger of a gun pointed at Quinn’s head.

Nick put his hands up to show he was unarmed. “Okay. I’m here. Let her go.”

Adam. Stay hidden. Please, Adam.

“That was easy,” said the Guide.

Then he pointed the gun straight at Nick’s head and pulled the trigger.

CHAPTER 30

CHAPTER 30

The gun fired, and Quinn flew back and hit the wooden floor like someone had given her a hard shove. The studio windows exploded outward, but the sound only came to her distantly, as though she were underwater. The overhead lights burst and glass rained down.

Time stopped. She felt as if she lay there for a minute. An hour. A day.