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At first, it felt unnecessary.

But when he told me what happened with Ethan’s jet, and the fact that there was probably still danger out there—even if they had made sure to catch the people responsible for the attack on him—I didn’t argue about it.

Besides, the guys who escort us are actually kind and always willing to help whenever we’re carrying things or need something lifted.

“What do you think it could be?” I ask as we walk to the living room couch.

“We’re not sure…”

That’s all they say.

And I immediately feel like they’re hiding something. Like always, they give us just enough information to stop the questions, but never the whole truth.

The girls and I exchange glances before looking back at each of them one by one, but nobody says anything else.

I bend down to grab one of Serena’s boxes from behind the couch, and she rushes over to it and starts playing.

She has boxes like these in every house.

“Did someone notify the guys?” I ask.

Then I think maybe I should find my phone and check whether Zayn messaged me back. Maybe I should tell him what’s happening at home.

Or maybe not?

What if I scare him for nothing?

“Yes, they’re on their way,” Ralph informs me, checking something on his tablet. “We redirected them onto another route to avoid the area.”

“Still no update from the guys who went to check?” Thalia asks.

“No,” Ralph replies without lifting his eyes from the screen.

The others exchange a quick glance before looking down at the same tablet.

The girls notice it too.

They look at one another, then at me.

Something unsettles me. It feels like there’s more they aren’t telling us, and I hate the tension creeping through the room.

“What are you checking?” I ask, the question slipping out before I have time to reconsider.

“The guys’ locations,” James answers.

“Are they all coming?” Sierra asks. “I left without my phone. Does Nick know we’re okay?”

“Mom, is Daddy coming home?” Serena asks from the middle of the toys when she hears her father’s name.

“Yes, sweetheart,” Sierra says with a wide smile. “He’s on his way.”

The last part is directed at the bodyguards, her eyes widening.

Ralph walks over to Serena, crouches down, and turns the tablet so she can see it.

“Look,” he says gently, pointing at the screen. “He’s here, and we’re here. He’ll be the first one home.”

Hearing that, Sierra visibly relaxes into the couch.