Page 164 of Unmasked

I picked up the phone, pressing the Reeve’s number, only for me to realize it wasn’t dialing. I pushed harder against the digits, but no sound came through. I flew from the chair, grabbing my cell and racing for the door. The four guards outside jumped to attention.

“The landline is out. Possible intruder at the east entrance. Call it in.”

Theodore’s arm looped around my waist, pulling me back towards the inside of the study.

“Theo, what are you doing?”

“What Vaughn told me to do.” Theo’s voice was deep as he pointed to the guards. “Whatever you do, do not let anyone but The Unavowed past this door. I’m bolting her in⁠—”

“You are not!” I jerked from his grasp. “I am the Queen of The Order. I can’t hide. I’ve been trained for this. You go and bolt yourself inside. I have to do my job.”

“Vaughn gave me specific instructions, and I will not disobey them.”

He came at me again, but my hand shot up, blocking and pushing him back. I withheld the cry that wanted to come at my fast action. “Here you take your orders from me. Get in that room, Theodore, and call Vaughn. I’m going to figure out what’s happening.”

I spun, jogging towards the Great Hall with my guards flanking behind me.

“Did you get ahold of the Reeve? Where is he?”

“He’s headed with men to the east entrance now, My Queen.”

My fingers were pushing buttons on my phone, bringing up the cameras. I jolted to a stop at what I saw, hearing popping in the far distance. I could see a team of men racing and shooting in the south entrance.”

“The east was a distraction. They’re coming in the south—” More pops rang out behind me as I spun. “And the north. Fuck. Call it in to the Reeve now!” I was already dialing Vaughn’s cell as I raced more into the Great Hall. “Have everyone hold them off but make their way here.”

The guards were quickly relaying my messages over their radio. Ringing had me shifting on my feet. Vaughn wasn’t answering. Were they going after him as well?

I hung up, hitting Mr. Prescott’s number. On the second ring, music broke through.

“Penelope?”

Louder shots had me crouching to take the extra gun in my guard’s ankle holster.

“We have a massive breach by men in tactical gear. The east, south, and north entrance. Get Vaughn and get your asses back over here now!”

Guards were rushing up, moving in close as I quickly hung up the phone.

“Divide. I want two guards at each side of every entrance,” I shouted. “They are not to get into this room. I want them dead. You aim for the head⁠—”

Warmth sprayed across my face, and red blanketed my vision. The guard closest to me dropped to my feet, nearly knocking me down as his weight fell into my legs. My speech faltered, but my instincts had me spinning and aiming the gun for the side door. A man in black, wearing a helmet with expensive gear mounted to it, had anger racing through me. I didn’t wait as I pulled the trigger, letting one hit his helmet. He stumbled, bumping into another man in black.

They were shooting.

We were shooting.

Hands were on me, pulling me back.

The sound was deafening, and ringing was all I heard as sound completely disappeared. I knew I was yelling at whoever had me, but I wasn’t sure they heard any better than I did. I twisted, bearing my weight down as I turned, seeing Theodore.

“Dammit. I said stay in the room!”

He was wincing. He couldn’t hear any more than I could. And the shots kept coming. My guards were dropping, and Theo was pulling me again towards the stairs. Just as we started to head up, men in black came rushing down. I fisted Theodore’s shirt, forcing him back from where we’d come. Before I could pull him towards the slave hall, we were being surrounded.

Voices wavered, breaking through the ringing. It was hollow. Echoing, sounding so far away.

“You son of a bitch!”

Theodore lunged, and it was only then I saw it under the helmet. The man—the one I knew as George. It had me ripping Theodore back with all my strength. If I didn’t, he was dead. This time for good.