Night’s voice was tense. “We have a situation. Chris Jensen has been taken by the Scorpio familly.”

Jade’s blood bran /bcold. “Where?”

“bGuyana/b. He

He went d

dark about two weeks ago. I bcan’t /bextract him myself—I’m handling something in Russia.”

“When do I bleave/bb?/b”

Tonight if possible. bI’ve /balready arranged transportation.”

“Tll be ready.”

She hung up and turned to find Ethan watching her, his brow furrowed with concern.

“Chris is in trouble,” she bsaid/b. “I need to go out of the country for ba /bwhileb.” /b

“How long?”

“I don’t know. bCould /bbe a few days, could be longer.”

Ethan nodded slowly.

do you need from me?”

“I need you to look after Max while I’m gone. His SAT is tomorrow, band /bI was supposed to be there. She hesitatedb. /b“And Ss too, if you can. He doesn’t bhave /banyone else now.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly at the mention of Ss, but he nodded. I’ll take care of them both.”

“Thank you.” She

meant it.

night before Max’s SAT, Ethan booked a suite at the Grand Princeton Hotel, just five minutes from the testing center.

The ni

Zach and Ryan had rooms bon /b

in the same fo

floor–Ryan across the bhall /band Zach next door.

*Nervous?” Ethan asked, noticing Max fidgeting with his admission ticket on the edge of the king–sized bed

“A little.” Max admitted. “But I’ve bbeen /bbpreparing /bfor this all year with Jade. She’s pretty much drilled every possible question type into my head by now.”

Ethan smiledb, /bloosening his tie. “She mentioned you’ve been scoring really well on the practice tests.”

“Yeah,” Max bnodded /bwith growing confidence. “I know she bhad /bto bleave /bfor something important. It’s fine–she’s already taught me everything I need to know.” He straightened his shoulders. “I’ve got bthis/b.”

“That’s the attitude,” Ethan bsaid/b. “Get some rest. Tomorrow’s your day to shineb./bb” /b

:

The next morning, Ethan drove Max to the test center in his Maybach, drawing stares from other students being dropped off in more modest vehicles.

“I’ll be right here when you finish,” Ethan said as Max got u

out of the cat.

“You don’t have to bwait /bthe whole time,” Max p

protested. “It’s like four hours.”

“I’ve got emails to catch up on, Ethan replied, holding up his phone. “Go ace that test.”

Max nodded and headed toward the building, his limp more pronounced than usual bdue /bto his nervousness.

Four hourster, Ethan was still in the car, having dealt with over a hundred emails and three conference calls. He watched as students began pouring out of the building, many looking relieved that the ordeal was over.

Max emerged, looking tired but not defeated.

“How was the test? Ethan asked.

“Fine, I think. The math section felt easy, actually. Max looked surprised to see they weren’t heading back toward the hotel. b“/bAren’t we going back to get my stuff?”

“Already taken care of. Your bag is in the trunk.”

“So…where bare /bbwe /bbgoing/b?”

“My ce,” Ethan replied.

“You’ll be staying with me until Jade gets bback/b.”

When they turned onto a private road lined with ancient oak trees, bMax /bpressed his face against the window. “Where are we?”

The trees parted to reveal a sprawling estate with manicured gardens band /ba mansion that looked like it belonged in a period drama. Max’s bjaw /bdropped as they pulled up to the front entrance, where a uniformed staff member was already waiting to bopen /btheir doors.

“Wee to the Haxton family estate,” Ethan said, enjoying the look of shock on Max’s bface/b. “I think you’ll find it bhas /beverything you need for an interesting summer vacation.”

Max stepped out of the bcar/b, his eyes wide as he took in the grandeur of the ce. “Holy shit,” he whispered.