The novel flashes back to Nicholas’s early years. When Nicholas was a child, his father left his family, telling Nicholas to avoid letting fear guide his choices. After Nicholas graduated from law school, his debt and his family’s needs compelled him to accept a meeting with Frank, who he knew was a crime boss. Nicholas had caught Frank’s attention after he succeeded in getting a case dismissed for one of the Organization’s drug dealers.

Frank invited Nicholas and his wife, Meredith, to Miami to discuss the job offer. He sent his private plane to pick them up, and when Nicholas saw Meredith enjoying the luxury of the plane service, he felt more enticed by Frank’s offer. In Frank’s compound on Fisher Island, the couple met Frank’s family, including his wife, Jenny, who revealed that she came from the same hometown as Nicholas and Meredith.

Instead of pitching the job to Nicholas, Frank gave him a folder containing a list of all the clients he would be expected to represent, which included criminals on the individual and organizational levels. Trying not to look surprised, Nicholas shook Frank’s hand.

Hannah takes a longer route to Santa Cruz to avoid being spotted on street cameras. She affirms her faith that Owen has a plan to ensure their well-being, even if it feels dangerous for them at the moment.

Hannah and Bailey reach Napa County Airport in the morning. They proceed toward a long-range private jet but are stopped by a security guard who asks them where they are going. When Hannah gives him the plane credentials, the guard offers to take them there and carry their bags. Bailey initially resists help, but Hannah insists on indulging his offer to maintain his trust.

Daniel is revealed to be one of the pilots on the plane they are taking. He introduces his co-pilot, Ryan, and the attendant, Sally, and identifies Hannah as “Ms. Roberts.” Once they board, Daniel briefs them on their itinerary: They will refuel at Teterboro, New Jersey, before proceeding to their international destination. Hannah opts not to ask where they are going, fearing that either Ryan or Sally may be working with the Organization. Later, she sees on the flight screen that they are going to land at Le Bourget in Paris.

Hannah recalls her honeymoon with Owen in Paris. She and Bailey both remember that the flash drive contains an album related to Hannah’s honeymoon, so they examine its contents for clues. Recalling Owen asking her if they could imagine living there, Hannah realizes that Paris is where Owen plans to settle their family down once they are out of harm’s way.

Hannah sleeps through the first leg of the flight and is later surprised to discover that they have not landed in Teterboro but Miami. She worries that the Organization diverted the plane to abduct them, so she asks to speak to Daniel. Daniel explains that the diversion was necessary to avoid bad weather. Hannah briefly considers calling Bradford for help, but then she realizes that panicking will give the Organization the advantage. She insists that they remain on board until the plane is refueled.

The novel flashes back to a shared vacation Nicholas and Frank’s families take to the town of Cap Ferrat in the south of France. Worried about the Organization’s exposure in the news, Frank asked Nicholas to lead the defense team for Frank’s associates. Nicholas knew that doing so would cement his and his family’s association with the Organization. Frank appealed to him for help, but all it took for Nicholas to agree was to see their families happy together.

The plane is in Miami for 42 minutes before Daniel announces that it is ready for takeoff. Hannah is anxious the whole time, worried about having to lock herself and Bailey in the cockpit for protection. Though Bailey eventually calms down, Hannah remains worried and stays awake for the rest of the journey.

Hannah reexamines the flash drive and reflects on one photo in the honeymoon album that is out-of-place. The photo is of Pablo Picasso’s painting Ulysses and sirens, which isn’t housed in Paris but Antibes, in the south of France. Daniel informs Hannah that they will soon descend into French airspace and asks if she has stayed at La Réserve before. Hannah recognizes this as a message for her to go to the hotel where she and Owen stayed on their honeymoon.

Hannah and Bailey take a taxi to a decoy hotel and then walk the rest of the way to La Réserve. Bailey notices that a man is following them. They hide in a boutique shop to lose the man, though Hannah senses she has seen their pursuer before.

They reach La Réserve, a small hotel with only 40 rooms. Hannah brings Bailey up to Room 202, the same room where she and Owen stayed. When the door opens, she expects to see Owen inside, remembering his promise to return there. Instead, she and Bailey are surprised to see Nicholas, who is alive.

Five years earlier, after leaving Canada, Owen retreats to Marlborough in New Zealand, hoping to find Tom, the vintner his mother befriended when she and Owen were living in Texas. Though Tom recognizes him, Owen introduces himself to the other vineyard workers as Timothy McQuade from Ireland. Tom hires Owen and gives him residence on the vineyard. In private, Tom shares his condolences with Owen over his mother’s passing but afterward refrains from speaking about Owen’s past. Owen appreciates this gesture and resolves to work toward reuniting with his family.

Owen settles into life at the vineyard, occasionally going to the library to discreetly search for information on Hannah and Bailey. Sometimes, Owen jolts out of bed, having dreamed of both his first meeting with Hannah and the last time he saw her, on the morning of his escape. Rather than return to sleep, Owen continues planning how to reclaim his life from the Organization. He eventually realizes that he needs Nicholas for his plan to work.

The novel flashes back to a conversation between Nicholas and Frank in Miami. It is revealed that following Jenny’s sudden death from a blood clot, Nicholas and Meredith went to console Frank. Frank felt guilty about sending Jenny on a weekend trip with her friend, which catalyzed the formation of the blood clot. Nicholas tried to distract him by telling him that his daughter, Kate, had finally introduced her boyfriend, Ethan (Owen’s real name), to him and Meredith. This entertained Frank, though he soon admitted that he was still trying to process Jenny’s absence. Nicholas assured him that he wouldn’t be alone.