Elena’s POV

The voice cut through the chaos like a blade through silk.

“Nobody moves. Let her go.”

I knew that voice before I saw the face. It lived in the same place as childhood summers and scraped knees and the way someone used to stand between me and every storm.

My brother.

Lucas.

He stood at the top of the gangway with half a dozen men fanned out behind him, weapons already raised, expressions flat and professional. No hesitation. No surprise.

He had planned this.

The thought landed somewhere soft and terrified inside me. He had known enough to come armed. He had known enough to come at all....