Page 162 of Their Arrangement

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The keypad was still there.

Same brushed steel. Same polished buttons. Same number of digits.

I typed them before I could talk myself out of it.

Click.

Unlocked.

The metal groaned softly as it gave way. Like even the vault didn’t want to be opened. My breath caught in my chest. I didn’t exhale until I leaned in—and even then, it was shallow. Shaky.

There was no alarm. No red light. No siren screaming,traitor.

Just quiet.

And inside, lined in black velvet, the contents sat waiting. Like they’d always known I was coming. The pistol was polished. Wiped clean. The envelope was thick. Stamped. Heavy. The USB flash drive sat coiled besidea key.

And below all of it?—

The book.

Black leather.

Worn smooth at the edges.

No markings.

No title.

Just presence.

It looked like it belonged in Barron’s hand. Heavy. Private. Final.

I didn’t touch it at first.

Just stared.

And for a second, I could almost hear Camille’s voice.

Don’t let them make you into something you’re not.

But I already was. They’d already made me. I reached in. Fingers grazing the leather. But I didn’t pull it out. I closed the safe slowly. Buttoned the keypad. Wiped the handle with my sleeve. And walked away.

I didn’t take it. But I didn’t say I wouldn’t.I stood in the bathroom stall again. Same one where Wolfe knelt. Where I bled. Where I’d never be the same. The black book wasn’t in my bag. But the weight of it was. Still inside me. Still pressing.

I opened the message thread.

CLOE:

I got it open.

The code worked.

SELENE:

Where is it.

CLOE:

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