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Nothing was going to stop me from returning home and keeping my girl safe.

* * *

Isabel

I was breathless as I walked outside, staying against the house as I made the call given the rain. I was terrified, more so than I’d been, but I knew the soldiers were outside. They would keep us safe. Still, the gnawing feeling refused to leave, a sixth sense that told me something was very wrong.

Was it possible Maxsim had used the listening device for some reason, including being worried about the traitor in his organization? Yes, but my instinct told me otherwise.

With the wind, security lights had gone dark.

I dialed his number, praying he would answer. When it went straight to voicemail, I cringed.

“Maxsim. We found a listening device in the office. Near the picture taken at Christmas. There’s something else. A payment from an attorney, Samuel Vincenzo. From my trust. I forgot all about the money I was given at Christmas. I just wanted you to know.”

The check meant nothing, but I didn’t want to forget it as I’d done for months. What if it held the key to who was behind the nightmare? I’d never felt so guilty in my life.

Even with the wind, I thought I heard a noise. I studied the churning waters, certain I wasn’t hearing things. In the darkness, I could see no one on the beach.

But a flash of lightning albeit brief highlighted something in the water. Was that a damn boat? My thoughts drifted to the boat I’d seen before, realizing Maxsim hadn’t grilled me on what I’d seen, which was his norm.

Maybe his men hadn’t told him. Why not?

A cold chill drifted down my spine. No, I didn’t like this at all.

I brought the phone against my chest, wincing in seeing the lightning, which was wild. When the rain began to fall faster, the wind pelting the cool drops against my skin, I headed inside.

“What now?” Hope whispered.

“I don’t know. We wait.” Was that the smartest thing to do? I wasn’t entirely certain, but what if I was worried for nothing?

As I moved closer to her, the feeling of dread created another wave of nausea. “I need you to listen to me and don’t overreact. Mina is upstairs. If anything weird happens, make sure she’s okay.”

“Weird? You’re really scaring me.”

“I don’t mean to, but something is off. I can feel it.” I wrung my hands, trying to think about what to do.”

“Okay,” she muttered. “Is there a hiding place? A safe room?”

I had to think about her question.

“Kind of. There’s a third floor and a closet in the library. You can’t really tell it’s a closet. Maybe that will be far enough away.” I was doing my best to keep my voice down while hearing the shimmer that highlighted just how terrified I’d become.

“Okay. Closet. Got it. What did Maxsim say?”

“I didn’t get him.” Another flash of lightning was followed by the lights flickering.

“Shit. Now you’re really terrifying me. Why don’t you ask one of the goons to wait inside.”

I backed toward the kitchen door, ensuring no one was paying any attention. “Not yet.” Another flicker of the lights and I began to chew on my bottom lip. My instinct was working overtime.

“Please tell me there’s a huge generator for this house.”

“Yes, there is.”

“Which means the security system will remain on. Right?” Hope wasn’t the kind of woman to be frightened easily. But she was feeding off the way I was feeling.

I’d momentarily forgotten all about the electricity needed for the system, which was no doubt why he’d had a generator installed. “Absolutely.”