Chapter 24 · The Mercer Still Breathing

"Your sister left you a voicemail."

Kael's hand stops halfway to the steel box. He doesn't turn around.

"She's dead," he says.

"Then she's got great cell service." I pull the recording device out and hit play before he can stop me.

The voice that comes through is soft. Young. Nothing like the cold-blooded heir I expected.

*"Kael, if you're hearing this, I screwed up. The debt mark isn't a succession trial. It's a kill switch. Dad didn't want an heir. He wanted insurance. Check vault seven. The real contract's there. And Kael—don't trust the north wing. Someone's been in the blood records."*

Static. Then nothing.

Kael stands there like someone shoved a knife between his ribs and told him to keep breathing.

"That's Evelyn," he says finally. His voice is flat. Too flat. "She died in a car accident two years ago."

"Or someone made it look like one." I step closer, holding out the device. "When did you last see the body?"

He doesn't answer. His jaw works like he's chewing glass.

Milo's voice crackles through my phone. "Nora, I'm pulling Mercer family death certificates. Evelyn's autopsy report is sealed.