“What the hell do you mean, there’s no footage?” Rowan’s yelling so loudly that instinctively I flinch back from him and cover my ears.
Declan steps in front of me, arms crossed, “You need to calm down, or you need to step out until you get it together.” I can hear the growl of rage coming from deep in Rowan’s chest from here.
“Declan, you have fifteen seconds to step aside so I can talk to my girl. Also, if you ever step between us again, I will end you. You’re my brother, but never mistake that as a green light to get between us.”
Making the quick decision I step around Dec, and fold as soon as I see the pain and anxiety in his eyes. He’s so worried about this that he has Killian standing guard at Rhett’s door until we can get back upstairs. He’s worried more for us in the past couple of months than Preston did in all the years wewere together. He holds his arms out to me and I step into them without hesitation. Quickly, I’m wrapped up in his arms and his lips find the top of my head. He takes a deep breath into my hair and slowly lets it out before speaking.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. I’m pissed that we’re somehow missing footage, but that doesn’t mean I’m mad at you or Rhett.”
Kissing his chest I pull back slightly, “You have every right to be mad, I’m sorry I got spooked.” Turning back to Mac my eyes flare in anger. My lungs exhale the breath they were holding. While what’s happening actually sinks in. “Mac, what do you mean there’s no video?”
Mac shifts his eyes from Rowan to me, “I mean it’s been wiped. Whoever did it did a decent job, to be honest. That’s not the biggest problem though.” He trails off nervously and looks to Declan then back to me. Impatient by his lack of just spitting it the fuck out, he gets the wrath of mama bear.
“What could be a bigger problem then missing footage and my fucking four year old seeing his biological father shining a light into his bedroom window in the middle of the night?”
Mac’s eyes widen in shock at my outburst before he says, “To erase the footage, they would have to be inside the house on my computer. Which stays locked up when I’m not here.”
My world stands still, everything else disappears. Everyone sounds muffled, I can feel my hands shaking. Preston’s been in here. He’s been in this house, it isn’t safe here. We have to leave. Instantly a plan starts forming in my head, my feet start moving without my permission straight to Rhett’s room.
After dismissing Killian and climbing in bed with Rhett my heart rate finally starts to slow. How is this happening? He doesn’t want Rhett, he never has. He wants me, and he knowsRhett’s my achilles. Holding onto my baby knowing that I have to shake our lives up again, and this time he’s going to lose it because he has to leave his Daddy and Uncles behind. It feels like I’ve been laying here for hours, just staring out the window waiting to see if the light shines in tonight.
My phone’s been buzzing but I haven’t checked it. It’s probably a mix between Rowan and Britt. I’ll have to leave the phone here, it’s fine though. I’ll call Britt from the road. How am I going to get my car out of here without waking up someone is the big question. Shit, surely the guards are going to tell Rowan as soon as we try to leave.
My heart is splintering in my chest thinking about leaving him behind. Allowing myself to sit with the hurt of leaving him behind for a little bit, it’s clear that we can’t do that. We also can’t stay here. Kissing Rhett’s forehead as carefully as possible, my decision is made. Looking out the window and finding the yard empty, my heart is racing as I make my way across his room and head into the hall. My foot catches on something and I let out a scream while falling. Quickly I’m pulled into strong arms before hitting the ground. Panicked instinct takes over and my body starts thrashing against whoever was laying on the floor that has grabbed me.
“Shhh baby, it’s me.” My body melts into him instantly. Rowan, it’s just Rowan. He adjusts us so I’m laying on top of him, in the middle of the hallway.
“Why are you laying in front of the door?”
He holds me tighter, “Keeping the bad guys away. I just fell asleep.” A smile splits my face, no, there’s no world where we leave Rowan to run. He just has to run with us.
20
Chapter Twenty
Rowan
When Clara left the office it felt like my soul was split in two. Half of me needed to go with her. I’m not dense, I knew where she was going. Needing to see him too, but knowing I cannot leave this office without a plan and some answers, I take out my cell phone and pull up the surveillance in his room. Watching as he sleeps soundly and she crawls into bed with him, I lock my phone and turn to my brothers.
“Let’s figure this shit out so I can go take care of my family.”
Mac starts in, his eyes glued to his laptop, fingers flying over the keyboard, and his monotone no nonsense voice in full force. This isn’t Mac my brother, this is Mac the human computer.
“So we need to figure out who had access to the house andwhat their connection to us and to Preston is. Sounds easy, but when you think about all the staff, guards, and soldiers who come in and out of here it’s a pretty long list. If anything is fact at this point, it’s that there’s an inside man working with us and with him.”
That has a thought rushing to the forefront of my mind, “Wait, an inside man? Declan, remember those Russians we tortured?”
Declan’s eyes pop wide, “Shit, yeah, they said something about they could get to us here if they wanted. They knew about Clara and Rhett.”
The feeling of all the blood draining from my face as realization dawns on me is enough to make me vomit. When I finally speak my voice is barely over a whisper.
“He’s working with the Russians. There’s no way we have two rats working for two different causes in our house. They’re all working together.” Darting my eyes around the room, locking my eyes with each of my brothers I cant help but yell, “They’re all fucking working together!”
We’ve been in the office working out details for our plan going forward for an hour and a half. It’s a pretty damn good one in my opinion. Now that every single detail has been hammered out between the six of us and we all have a job, I have another job to do. Making my way out of the office and up the stairs. Once I get to Rhett’s room I dismiss Killian who’s still posted up at the door even though I’m sure Clara told him to leave. Planting my ass on the ground and leaning against the wall beside the door, I make myself comfortable. I’d never break a promise to them, especially not when that promise is to keep the bad guys away.
I must have drifted off at some point because I’m startledawake by Clara tripping over me. After calming her down and moving back up into the sitting position, situating Clara in my lap, my hand trails lightly up and down her back.
“We’ve got a plan, Pretty Girl. We’ll handle this. I promise you, you and Bear will be safe. I’m so sorry. I feel like I’ve failed you guys, but I promise never again.”
