“How long will you be gone for?” Kai asks.
“Two nights, max,” Drew replies.
“Is that enough time?” I ask Sawyer, being vague on purpose because I want to be careful with that bastard in the vicinity.
“I believe so.”
“This is the perfect opportunity,” Drew whispers. “Because Christian, Trent, Charlie, and Denton have all been requested too. You have the list of elite targets, and there’s enough time to work out a plan. Go for it, so we can get ready to really nail the bastard to the wall.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“That was easy,” Xavier says, when I return from the dungeon to my old bedroom the following night, having given the new guard on duty down there a glass of iced tea laced with the sleeping potion I’ve used to drug Charlie.
“It helps that we have eyeballs on him to ensure he drinks it,” I add, watching the new guy sipping from the drink via the live feed on Xavier’s tablet.
Thanks to the intel I acquired from Father’s computer, the guys broke through the firewall into the security system. We don’t even need to call the safecracker dude in, because the infrared security is all digitally monitored and controlled, and Xavier now knows how to deactivate it. The only thing we aren’t sure about is whether it will emit any alarm once it’s disabled, so knocking the bodyguard out was important for more than one reason.
“And you’re sure the camera system in the house is separate to the system in the dungeon,” Kai asks, folding his arms across his chest.
“Yes,” Sawyer replies. “They are completely separate systems. Xavier has already uploaded a fake feed to the system in the house, so they won’t see us sneaking down there. It’s why no one discovered Abby wandering around the house. All we have to worry about is bumping into any guards patrolling inside.”
“It’s the middle of the night,” I say. “And whoever is on house duty is most likely dozing in front of the TV or already passed out. I didn’t bump into anyone.” Although, I had a story concocted about needing something from my old bedroom if I’d been discovered. “Everyone is away, and the staff is sleeping, so they won’t be expecting any trouble. Especially when we snuck in through the tunnel, so they have no idea we are here.”
“And if we are discovered,” Rick says. “We’re ready to deal with them.” He pats the gun strapped to his hip. We are all carrying because we’re taking no chances. It’s been mutually agreed that anyone who finds us must be taken out. I don’t like thinking about it too deeply, because these men are only doing their job, but there is too much at stake to leave witnesses.
Let’s just hope we don’t run into anyone.
We spend another twenty minutes anxiously watching the guard on the feed until the drugs take effect and he slumps unconscious to the floor.
“Showtime,” Jackson says with a muscle popping in his jaw. He’s been unusually quiet tonight, and strain literally oozes from his pores. I know this must be hard for him, but I love him for wanting to come tonight even though no one would blame him if he wanted to sit it out.
Xavier stays behind to monitor our progress through the house and to disable the security system at the last second. Rick is staying with him, to keep watch on the corridor outside my bedroom, just in case anyone appears. Xavier’s role in this is crucial, plus we need access to my bedroom to exit via the tunnel. Sawyer, Jackson, Kai, and I will break into the vault and locate the files we need. We’re using the earpieces again to stay in constant communication.
We move stealthily through the house, and in next to no time, we are downstairs, pushing past the immobile guard, spread-eagled across the floor in the hallway. Using the code Drew gave us, we enter the bastard’s office, waiting for Xavier to shut down the main system before stepping inside the elevator that takes us to the vault in the hidden lower level of the basement.
It’s eerily quiet when we step out into the narrow hallway, and the only sounds are our collective deep breaths. Our feet squelch on the shiny floor as we edge toward the only door down here. I curl my hand around the door handle, drawing a brave breath. “Disable the infrared system now, Xavier,” I instruct.
“On it.”
A piercing alarm rings out, and my eardrums silently protest.
“Shit.” Kai shares an anxious look with me. “Please tell me that’s only going off down here.”
“It is,” Xavier confirms. “I’m watching the hallways in the house, and there isn’t a sinner in sight. The system is set up so a warning communication is issued when the alarm goes off, but I stopped it, so no one is aware you are down there. I’ll keep you posted if that changes.”
“Okay,” Kai says, pulling my hand away from the door and nudging his way in front of me. “We’re going in now.”
Sawyer pulls me back behind him, pushing me into Jackson’s body. “Stay here and let Kai and me check it out first.”
My initial instinct is to pout and protest, but it’s cool that my husband and his friends want to protect me. That they are willing to put themselves at risk to ensure my safety. Only an idiot would argue against that.
Jackson wraps his arms around me from behind. “I’m glad you’re letting us take care of you. No one wants to see you hurt again.”
The guys enter the room, and I’m too preoccupied watching them to even respond to Jackson’s statement. Or to point out that I don’t want to see any of them hurt either.
Anyway, it’s a moot point. Because the coast is clear and Kai is back, taking my hand and leading me into the room.
It’s a large open-plan room, split in two by a small seating area placed in front of a large wall-mounted screen. “That must be where he plays the home movies,” I ponder out loud, shouting to be heard over the ear-shattering chiming of the alarm.
