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“Rylan! Izzy! Stop making googly eyes at each other and get your asses in here,” Zak called. “We have a mission to plan.”
part two
mistakes
Honesty is the fastest way to prevent a mistake from turning into a failure
-James Altucher
chapter
twenty-one
The safe houseEthan Voss took them to was far from the destruction of the earthquake and nicer than Rhiannon had expected. The house itself was the kind you’d see at the end of any quiet cul-de-sac—a simple two-story home with white siding and a small front porch. Nothing about it stood out. If she didn’t know any better, she’d assume it belonged to some nice older couple who had grandkids visit on the weekends. It wasn’t the kind of place that screamed “safe house,” and, she supposed, that was what made it a perfect one.
Ethan’s SUV rolled to a stop in front of the house, and Pierce stiffened beside her, his gaze sharp as he scanned their surroundings. Wariness radiated off him as he subtly shifted his weight in the seat as if preparing for an attack. He hadn’t said much since they were loaded into the vehicles, his attention on the men who had shown up claiming to be rescuers.
Neither of them trusted this Ethan Voss or his team, and Pierce had made it clear to her that while the danger of Halston was ever-present, these guys might be just as bad.
As Ethan killed the engine, his second-in-command, a man named Trent, exited the vehicle first. He didn’t say a word as he scanned the quiet street, and then he nodded to Ethan. “Clear.”
“Move to the front door casually, but don’t linger,” Ethan said as he turned to face Rhiannon and Pierce in the back seat. It was the first thing he’d said since he’d returned to the SUV from taking a call earlier. A call that had majorly pissed them off. “We’ve secured the place. No one’s going to find you here.”
Why did that sound more like a threat than a reassurance?
Rhiannon swallowed hard, glancing at Pierce. His jaw was set, eyes narrowed as he regarded Ethan. After a moment, he nodded curtly and reached for the door handle.
Ethan climbed out of the driver’s seat with startling casualness, like he really was just a man coming home.
Pierce helped her from the backseat, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back as they moved toward the house. It was a small gesture, but the weight of it there was enough to ground her.
They were okay.
They were supposed to be safe here… right?
She glanced back at him as she climbed the steps, searching for any sign of reassurance, but his face was stone-cold, unreadable. She’d gotten used to that look while trapped with him, the one he wore when he was calculating every possible threat, every angle of attack.
The front door creaked open as Trent stepped inside and held it open for them. “Welcome home.”
She scowled at him and resisted the urge to flip him off.
The cool air hit Rhiannon first—honestly, it was a relief after the heat of the gift shop, and she’d never take air conditioning for granted again.
The living room was small but comfortable, with a large couch and a couple of armchairs arranged around a fireplace. It felt cozy, lived-in. Generic art prints decorated the walls, and the floors were slightly scuffed but clean hardwood. If she wasn’t so on edge with Ethan and Trent watching their every move,this house might actually feel like a safe place to breathe and recuperate.
“Make yourselves comfortable,” Ethan said as he crossed the room to check the window locks. The way he moved was efficient, almost methodical. “You’ll be staying here for a while. We need to keep you off Halston’s radar until we can deal with them.”
Pierce’s hands moved in a quick flurry of signs to Rhiannon.We need to find out why they’re really helping us.
Rhiannon gave a small nod, but her attention was pulled away by the sound of footsteps descending from upstairs. Her heart leaped into her throat when she saw who it was. Gareth—no,Gage—stood at the bottom of the staircase, his face bruised, but his posture relaxed like he was already making himself at home.
Pierce scowled.“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Look who finally made it,” Gage said, his tone casual as if they hadn’t just been through hell. “Didn’t expect to see you two so soon.”
Pierce took a step forward, his body language instantly shifting to something more dangerous, but Rhiannon grabbed his arm, holding him back.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
