Vanguard Horizon Holdings.

My holding company.

Daniel leaned toward me, his breath hot and smelling of scotch. “Are you deaf? Why are you still standing there?”

Moving slowly, I picked up my leather clutch from the entryway console. My hands were shockingly steady. The adrenaline had burned off, leaving behind a cold, calculating clarity.

“Because,” I said, my voice cutting through the heavy air, “I wanted a few seconds to remember the precise details of this moment. I want to memorize the lighting.

Your expressions. The exact tone of your voices.”