came again.

“Brandon.”

“Take Lucas and Chloe inside.”

A chill ran through her.

“What?”

“Right now.”

“Why?”

“Lock the doors.”

“Brandon, who’s outside your hotel room?”

He didn’t answer her question.

“Do not return to Sacramento.”

“Why?”

The knocking stopped.

Then Rachel heard something even more unsettling.

The hotel door opening.

Brandon said, “Wait—”

A man spoke in a calm voice.

“You should’ve told her before she froze the accounts.”

Rachel felt the room shift beneath her.

The man knew about the cards.

“Who are you?” Rachel demanded.

For several seconds, no one answered.

Then the stranger gave a quiet laugh.

Not cruel.

Almost curious.

“So that’s Rachel.”

Brandon said something too muffled to understand.

The stranger continued.

“Mrs. Carter, your husband has created a very costly problem.”

Rachel tightened her grip on the phone.

“Who is this?”

“You’ll know soon enough.”

“Are you warning my family?”

“No.”

A pause