CHAPTER 16 — SAINT AUGUSTINE TOWER

Saint Augustine Tower had no underground level four on its official plans.

Nathan found the hidden entrance beneath a private chapel.

Evelyn, Mara, Nathan, Celeste, and Gabriel entered together.

No one trusted anyone.

That was why Evelyn kept them close.

The elevator descended for nearly a minute.

When the doors opened, they found a city beneath the city.

Rows of servers stretched through a vast concrete chamber. Operators sat at terminals. Armed guards watched silently.

At the center stood Daniel Vance.

He was older than the man Evelyn remembered, but his eyes were unchanged.

Julian stood beside him with his hands bound.

Daniel smiled.

“My daughter.”

Evelyn did not move.

“Prove who you are.”

Daniel lifted his left hand.

A thin white scar crossed the palm.

“When you were nine, you broke a glass sculpture in my office. I picked up the pieces before you could touch them.”

Evelyn remembered the blood dripping onto the carpet.

She also remembered something no report could know.

“What did you tell me?”

“That beautiful things are rarely worth bleeding for.”

Her eyes burned.

“You let me bury you.”

“I let Beatrice believe I was gone.”

“You let me marry Julian.”

“I needed you inside the family.”

Julian’s face tightened.

“She was not a tool.”

Daniel looked amused.

“You treated her like one.”

“And I was wrong.”

Evelyn turned toward Julian.

For the first time, she saw no arrogance in him.

Only shame.

Daniel gestured toward the servers.

“At midnight, the public Thorne empire will fall. Every hidden asset will transfer to you.”

“And the hospitals?”

“Acceptable pressure.”

“People could die.”

“Empires are not transferred politely.”

Evelyn stepped closer.

“Stop it.”

Daniel’s smile faded.

“You still think kindness is strength.”

“No. I think control without conscience is weakness.”

He looked at Celeste.

“You taught her sentiment.”

Celeste answered coldly.

“You taught her cruelty.”

Daniel pressed a button.

Steel doors sealed behind them.

“Nightingale requires one final test,” he said.

The lights above Julian, Celeste, Gabriel, Nathan, and Mara turned red.

“You may save three.”

Evelyn stared at her father.

“Save them from what?”

Gas began leaking into the chamber.

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Daniel placed his hand on a scanner.

“Choose quickly.”