And my stomach dropped.
It was old.
Maybe fifteen years old.
Taken somewhere underground.
Men stood around a long table.
Senator Mercer.
Several armed men I didn’t recognize.
My father.
And—
Rook.
Younger.
Harder.
Standing beside my father wearing the same raven symbol.
The entire barn went silent.
I looked at Rook in shock.
“You knew my father?”
Rook didn’t answer immediately.
Outside—
another explosive charge slammed against the doors.
The entire barn shook violently.
But inside?
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Because Rook was staring at the photograph like it was a ghost.
Then finally?—
his voice came low and rough.
“Your father saved my life.”
54
FELICITY
The barn exploded inward.
