He glances back at Smith, who nods. Kenneth lowers the gun, but keeps both hands wrapped around it.

“Thanks,” Lynell says. She leans against the foot of the bed to take some weight off her feet. “Where was I?”

“The code,” Smith says.

“Ah, yes. Thank you, Smith. The code. So, let me clear up anything Eric has told you. My name is Lynell Elizabeth Elysian. My mother, Elizabeth Crane, married my father, Eli Elysian.” Kenneth and Smith exchange a quick look. “Yes, I thought you might recognize the name.” She smiles.

“Eli was the only legitimate child of Gideon Elysian, the creator of the Registration.”

“We don’t need a history lesson,” Kenneth says.

“You’re right, I’m sorry,” Lynell says, holding her left hand up in surrender. The motion puts the broken and marred fingers on display. Lynell tries to ignore the sight of dried blood caking her arm. “Just trying to explain my background. So, that makes me the only true heir.”

“We heard you have a daughter,” Smith says.

Lynell’s heart clenches. It takes all her energy to keep her face from showing any emotion at the mention of Anna. “Yes, I do. Unfortunately, she was the result of an affair,” she says. The lie makes her ache for Daniel. “So she, just like your beloved Eric, is a bastard and therefore not legitimate.”

Smith and Kenneth exchange a quick look before turning back to Lynell. She pushes away from the bed and walks to the other side of the room, listening as both men turn and follow her movement.

“Eric is a big man with a lot of guns and a last name that means something in this world, but he’s not the rightful heir,” she says, looking at the far wall. “He’s a ruthless, spiteful, and violent leader who doesn’t care about anyone, including his employees.” She turns to face the men, both of whom seem to be listening more intently now. “And he’ll never have the code. He won’t figure it out, and I’ll suffer and die before I give something that powerful to a psychotic bastard.”

They shuffle where they’re standing. She ignores them and leans against the wall. “Why does he want the code so badly, though?” she asks. “What could it possibly do to warrant all of this?” She gestures to their surroundings. “He already has the Registration. You’d think that would be power enough, right?”

They don’t reply, but Lynell sees a flicker of resentment in Smith’s eyes.

“You’re loyal to Mr. Elysian, right?” she asks. Kenneth nods. “Then I think you deserve to know what the code does. But first, you have to promise me you won’t tell him what I’m about to tell you.” She lowers her head and looks at them through her eyelashes.

Kenneth shakes his head, and Smith glances over his shoulder at the door.

Lynell frowns, pacing the room. “It’s for your safety. If he knew you had information this important, you’d become a threat to him. He wants to be the only person alive who knows.”