Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Still, I’m prepared in case Webber ambushes the place as soon as I open the door.
He doesn’t.
Jamie lets herself in with a huff. “Finally. Shit, what were you guys doing that it took forever to—uh, you know what? I actually don’t want to know. Here are the contracts Harley needs to sign.”
I close the door and lock it, the sound echoing around the foyer.
That’s when she looks up at me and notices my gear and my gun. Her eyes widen. “What … why—”
I don’t know if this is an act or not. I don’t know if anyone can play dumb that well. “Put your hands on the wall.”
“What?”
“I need to check you for weapons.”
“What’s—”
“Jamie. Hands. Wall. Now.”
She does as I ask, and I go through her bag and check the folder of papers for Harley.
“I’m gonna pat you down.”
“Why?” she exclaims.
“Where is he?” I ask.
“Who?”
“Webber.”
She looks more confused. “W-Webber?”
Fuck it, I don’t have time for this.
When I’m satisfied she’s clean, I point my gun at her. “Walk.”
“What the fuck is going on?” she hisses.
“Go down the hall on the right,” I instruct as I kill all the lights in the entryway and living room. I’ll put her in one of the other bedrooms while I find this asshole.
“Brix—”
“I don’t know if you’re involved or not, but I’m not taking any chances. If you’re not involved, this is for your own safety. If you are, well, nothing could keep you safe from me.”
“What is going on?” she asks again.
“Webber’s here. Or, at least in the area. How did he know where to find us?”
“Wait, he’s here? Where?”
Good question.
“Get in this room and stay there until I come get you,” I tell Jamie.
“But—”
“You don’t want to know what will happen if you leave this room. Got it?”
Her eyes well up.
“I mean it, Jamie.”
She looks terrified, but I can’t rule her out as being part of this just yet. She nods, and her chin wobbles.
Making my way into the formal dining room, I close the blinds, turn off the lights, and fire up Trav’s laptop.
My ears are on alert for every sound.
From the computer, I can pull up more than one image around the house at a time. There are cameras covering every angle outside, but inside they’re just in the hallways and main living areas.
My leg bounces because there’s nothing here.
No one’s here.
That’s when a camera picks up movement. A figure, I’m pretty sure it’s a guy, crouches as he runs toward the back of the house. The house is secure, so unless he’s going to break shit and bring attention to himself, I don’t see him breaking in until he’s ready.
The figure hovers by the fuse box outside.
With only night vision available, it’s hard to work out exactly what he’s doing, or if it’s even Webber, but I assume he’s planning to cut the power to be like some villain in a scary movie.
Not the smartest move considering that will give me warning to be ready for him. It’s not like he knows I’m already aware of his presence. Also, if cutting the power is his plan, he’s gonna struggle. Not only could I kick his ass in the dark or light, Trav has a failsafe in place for shit like this. Trav’s panic room and security system run on two completely separate power supplies.
Webber appears unarmed from what I can see, but I can’t guarantee that.
He gives up trying to cut the power and makes his way around the side of the house. I watch as he approaches the front door.
I sit and wait, letting the adrenaline pump through me.
As much as I want to go out there, guns blazing, and take this fucker down the quickest way I know how, there are more tactical ways to handle this.
And, okay, maybe I’m finding this a little bit more exciting than I should, but I can’t help it.
Years of training make me live for this shit.
When the click of the front door opening sounds through the quietness, I realize I’m not dealing with an amateur here.
That’s what he must’ve been doing at the fuse box—disabling the electronic lock to the front door.
Smart man.
Smarter than I was anticipating. Had I not been expecting him, everything would appear as normal.
He’s next to silent, and if Harley and I were in bed, I wouldn’t be able to hear him.
If he was able to get in here that fast, it means I might have to take him out faster than planned.
He can’t get anywhere near Harley. I can’t let him.
I close the laptop to stop the screen glow from giving away my position and then take the gun and slink to the floor, crawling my way as silently as possible toward the living room.
Going in blind sucks, but that’s better than being too late.
I manage to get behind the couch when his light footsteps reach the room.