“No, sweetheart. It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known. I suspect Samson sent the texts to lure you into clicking the link. That’s how he found out where you are.”
She gasps, her hand coming over her mouth.
I pull her around in front of me and hold her close. “It’s okay. We’re all here. Nothing is going to happen to you.”
Addison is standing close, eyes still wider than saucers. Her arms are crossed. She’s hugging herself. And she’s shaking violently, probably because she’s freaked the fuck out that Frank Samson is coming here. Now.
Ghost rounds the table and stops in front of her, holding her elbows. “Take a breath. Everything is going to be okay. I promise.”
She stares at him, lips parted, and her head begins to shake slowly. “I, I can’t.”
“Can’t what, Addison?” he asks.
“Can’t…” She seems to be struggling to breathe. “Can’t see him.” Her knees buckle, but Ghost is fast. He grabs her waist, holding her up.
“I’m s-s-sorry,” Autumn says.
I grip her chin, making sure she’s looking me in the eyes. “Not your fault.”
“But it is. I’m so stupid. I shouldn’t have clicked on that link.”
“Anyone would have, Baby girl. Everything’s going to be fine.”
“You wouldn’t have.”
She’s right about that, but I’m not the average human. I’ll give her a lesson on how to recognize a scam one day in the near future. Or just reinforce the fact that she should never open anything she doesn’t know for certain is legit. But that’s for another day, too.
“He’s going to be here in two minutes,” Bryant points out.
“I’m watching,” Galloway adds.
“You two need to go to the safe room,” I say to Autumn before glancing at Addison. This house has a room where the women can hide. It’s for emergencies, and this definitely constitutes an emergency.
“No,” Autumn says, pushing away from me. “You need me.”
I grab her biceps, “Sweetheart, now is not a good time to be defiant.”
“Mace, now is the best time to be defiant. You need me to open the door and let him in. Think about it. He has no idea I’m on to him, or that anyone is, for that matter. He simply thinks he’s finally tracked me down.” She glances around the room. “The rest of you should move away from the front of the house. He’ll trust me and come inside. I’ll fake my reaction, like I’m excited to see him. I’ll tell him I’ve been hiding from whoever killed my father. He’ll think I have no idea who did it.”
“It’s not a bad idea,” Ghost comments.
It’s not. He’s right. It’s a brilliant, well-thought-out plan. But I hate it. I hate Autumn ever being in any sort of dangerous situation.
“We gotta move, people,” Bryant warns, slamming his laptop shut.
“Be right back,” Ghost says as he ushers Addison out of the room.
Autumn flattens her palms on my chest. “He’s not going to shoot me, Mace. His plan won’t have changed. He needs to lure me into his web and convince me he’s a great guy. His goal is still to rob my father of everything he owns, and that includes me.”
Fuck. She’s right. I kiss her forehead. “You get him into the house, Baby. That’s it. Lead him into the kitchen. Tell him you’ll make him coffee or something. Then excuse yourself to go to the bathroom. Get the fuck out of this room. Head for the back of the house. We’ll take over from there.”
I hate this. With every ounce of my being. Putting Autumn in any sort of danger makes me want to vomit. But she’s right. The risk is minimal.
“I’m going out the back door,” Bryant says as he sticks his laptop in one of the kitchen drawers, out of sight. “I’ll round to the front when he arrives so he can’t retreat.”
Ghost joins us. “I’ll also go out there, cover that door.”
Galloway is still looking outside. “I’ll wait in the pantry.”
