Because Tessa had just issued that command on camera, in her own voice.

And Julian was holding the crowbar.

And everything they did next was going to belong, permanently, to me.

Chapter 12 — The Decoy

“Julian, stop!” I said, and I let my voice shake, let real and performed terror blend together as I backed away from the desk.

“Please.

Everything I have is on that laptop.

My client files, my personal work, my entire career.