“I don’t have powdered sugar. Stone won’t touch them without it.”
“I …” How could she help? “I could ask Alvaro for some from the kitchen. I’m sure he’d have it.”
“Okay, then meet us up at the cabin?”
“Sure.” Brighton made her way down the private hall, then rounded the corner and headed toward the front.
“Miss Brighton?” the girl at the front desk called. “Mr. Mulroney said you should stay inside.”
She smiled. “Just going to the kitchen for some powdered sugar.” But even as the words left her mouth, Brighton stopped cold at the familiar face outside the vestibule. Beyond the revolving doors.
Oh no.
Air trapped in her lungs, she couldn’t move. Stomach roiling, ears ringing, she saw Death had come for her.
Saw Finch with a gun to Mari’s head. He motioned Brighton outside. Somehow, he stood at an angle that hid him from the front desk.
Run. Just run.
Finch must’ve read her thoughts because he hauled Mari up tighter. Though the distance was too far to hear Mari’s cries, they made it to Brighton’s soul. Stone … she did not want to leave him. If she went out that door, she’d never see him again. Either because Ladomer would make sure. Or because she’d be dead.
But Stone wouldn’t be.
“You okay, ma’am?” Olivia called from the front desk.
“I …”
Chapter
Nineteen
Bexar-Wolfe Lodge, Northern Virginia
What Willow wouldn’t do for a wide-open plain. To take a long walk in tall grass. Have a moment alone to connect with nature and find some peace. A thousand pieces of information were stinging her attention, making it impossible to figure out the source. Since it was late and wilderness??—along with its inherent wildlife?—surrounded the lodge, she instead opted to bake. A poor substitute, especially considering her poor baking skills. But a girl did what she could with what she had.
“Where’s Brighton?”
Licking cookie batter from her thumb, she pivoted to her brother. “Barking a question like that in a terse tone doesn’t exactly entice people into answering.” That’s when she noticed the cut across his cheek. The bruise swelling his eye. “What happened?”
“Where is she?” he growled.
Swallowing more than a little nerves, Willow scowled. “She went to help Mom in the condo. What’s going on?”
“We had an intruder.” Stone stalked to the door with Grief aimed in that direction, too. “Tried to kill me. Said they were taking her back. Canyon and Griffin are scouting the property for more trouble.”
“No,” she said slowly, evenly. Trying to breathe … and failing.
“Lock the doors after me. Let nobody in unless they’re family. Clear?”
The door swung open, and Stone pivoted toward the door with his weapon trained on it.
Mom stepped in, humming and carrying a casserole dish. She bent to greet Grief. She started when she finally noticed Stone and the gun he lowered. “What’s wrong?”
“Where’s Brighton?”
Faltering halfway to the island, Mom glanced between them. “She was cooking with me, then went to get powdered sugar from your chef. She’ll be right up.”
Stone bolted out the door and down the hill to the lodge. Not seeing her in the foyer, he grew frantic. Checked the condo, darting from one room to the next. “She’s not here.” He barreled past his sister and pulled out his phone as he stormed to the front desk. “Olivia.”
