She twists her head when we reach the landing, peering down at the door. “Is it my brother?”
“Maybe.” I hope so. I hope it’s Henry and he’s so jetlagged, he forgot all the protocols for approaching the cabin. I tug her in for a kiss, not able to resist how adorable she looks in my shirt withher hair tousled from earlier. She melts against me, and I tuck it away for later. If it is Henry, I’ll have some serious explaining to do in about ten minutes.
When we get to my bedroom, I press my thumb to what looks like a knot in the wood of my floor-length mirror. The biometric sensor engages, and I hear a soft click before swinging the mirror away from the wall. Next to me, Noelle gasps and a little burst of pride straightens my shoulders. I’ve never shown anyone my office here before and the tech I’ve employed is all based on stuff my partners and I have created and tested over the years. Noelle peers around the frame and steps inside.
“I never would have guessed this was in here.”
“That’s the point.” I move in behind her and pull the door closed, reactivating the seal. It’s unlikely anyone could get this far, but if the cabin was breached, all they would succeed in doing would be pulling the wood paneling away from the ‘built-in’ mirror.
Noelle does a slow spin in my office, taking in the monitors and equipment, my desk, and a small kitchenette. “What is this place?” she breathes. “Is it like a safe room?”
“It is. I designed the one in your family’s home too.”
“Really? I thought you were a tech guy. Like video game apps.”
I move to my desk, swiping up so I can see the perimeter cameras. “I am a tech guy. Tech security and design. Although this space was designed by one of my partners. I’ll show you how the bed comes down from the ceiling later.”
She glances up. “There’s a bed?”
“Min Jee is incredible with industrial design. Small spaces aren’t new in a lot of residential units in many Asian countries, and she’s incorporated a lot of that knowledge for our customers.” A movement on the edge of west side of the property draws my eye and I zoom in, waiting to see if it gets picked upon another camera. Sure enough, a hooded figure is tramping through the woods. Noelle comes up behind me.
“A lost hiker?” she asks.
“Not in those clothes.” I do make allowances for people who may have broken down, or gotten lost, but the way this person is moving through the woods, instead of following the road up to the cabin makes me think this isn’t an innocent approach.
We watch for several more minutes, until finally the guy looks up, clearly scanning for surveillance, by the way he holds his hood up to shield one side of his face from where he suspects a camera would be. Not an amateur then, but obviously not someone who has done enough research on this place.
Noelle sucks in a breath, leaning close to the monitor. “Isn’t that?—”
“It is,” I say, flatly.
Shit.
Definitely not an amateur, just someone who decided to take advantage of time as opposed to strategy. “Noelle. Didn’t I tell you not to use your phone?”
“I didn’t!” She paces around the small room. “I swear, I didn’t text Karli, or call her or check any social sites, nothing.”
I stop, thinking for a minute. “Did you turn your phone off?”
She shakes her head. “No, I saw notifications come in, but I never responded, I promise.”
“Where’s your phone?”
“In my room. On that bench at the foot of the bed.” She bites her lip. “Why is that guy here? Do you know him?”
I don’t know him personally, but I’m very familiar with the Blood Knights.
Fucking hell.
Is he alone, or did he have time to call in reinforcements? As we watch, he pauses in the shadow of a tree, and a small flare appears as he cups his hands around his mouth. A fuckingcigarette? The Blood Knights aren’t stupid, so he’s either over-confident or he doesn’t give a shit about being discovered.
Neither scenario gives me the warm and fuzzies. This place is effectively a fortress, so I’m not too worried, but I’m not interested in dealing with anything that puts a target on Henry’s back or risks Noelle’s safety.
“Stay here,” I say, unlocking the door. “I’m going to get your phone.”
“But—” Noelle’s face is pale.
“We’re fine, Noelle. He can’t get in the cabin.”
