Page 127 of Romancing His Heart
I pull up in front of the house and jump out of the car with it still running. I burst through her front door and start yelling.
“Sloane, dear, what’s wrong?” Sylvie comes rushing into the foyer, looking alarmed.
“Do you own a gun?”
“Ah, are you all right, Sloane?”
“Do you own a gun?” I shout. “Loki safe worded me. Do you own a gun?”
“You mean likeFifty Shades? I don’t think that requires a gun, Sl—”
“No,” I interrupt. “You don’t understand. I went to Loki’s house to tell him I loved him. I made the cake. I didn’t even burn it. He sneered and told me I was only a distraction, but then he used our code word. He called me Camden and said salt.”
“Honey, you’re not making any sense.”
I feel like my world is crashing all around me, and I don’t know what to do. “Sylvie, someone is in that house with him. Someone that shouldn’t be there. He was trying to tell me he’s in trouble. I’ve tried to call Ash and Seth multiple times, but no one’s answering.”
Understanding crosses her perfectly painted face. She grabs my arm and drags me through the house to an office in the back.
“Pull up a chair, Sloane. Let’s see what’s going on over there.”
“Wh-What do you mean?”
Sylvie gives me a gentle smile. “Loki left that house empty for over ten years. I’ve been taking care of it until he was ready to return. Part of that was upgrading the alarm system. I had cameras installed all over the property so my security team could monitor it remotely. I turned them off when he went back a few weeks ago, but I should be able to reactivate them. Just give me a moment.”
I stare at this woman with an admiration I’ve only ever had for Emory. Sylvie Westbrook may be the epitome of a lady, but she raised five boys and took in at least four others. She’s no pushover, and she knows how to get shit done.
Grabbing a chair while she opens and closes multiple browsers, I slide in next to her and see the moment the feed comes to life. She starts clicking buttons, and the screen rolls from room to room. We both gasp when we come to the office.
They have Loki tied to a chair behind the desk. In one corner, we see Seth slumped over the restraints holding him up. In the center of the room, Luca is a bloodied mess. A man twists his arm in an unnatural way, and Sylvie cries out.
Thank God there is no sound.
Another man turns to Loki, and I see he’s wielding a knife. His body hides the blade, but I see Loki’s face, he’s in pain. When the man steps back, we see blood gushing from Loki’s open palm.
Holy fuck. This is really happening.
Sylvie is mute and unmoving. She’s in shock.
“Sylvie,” I yell, shaking her arms gently, “do you have a gun? Where’s your security team? Can you scroll through to find how many men are in there?”
She comes to and bobs her head. “I— Yes, we have guns. What are you going to do? Do you know how to use them?”
“I have to do something, and I have to do it now. Loki taught me to use a Glock. My aim is good enough. Can you help me get into the house? Where is your security?” I ask again.
“Um, yeah. Yes. There’s a service entrance. Most people don’t know about it. It’s an old house. There are secret passages in the walls, like this.” She presses a button on the bookcase, and a hidden door pops open. “The layouts of our homes are different, but they were built at the same time.”
“Does Loki’s open to the office like this one?”
“Yes, but I can’t remember which wall it’s on.”
“Where is your team, Sylvie?” I ask for a third time.
She glances away, and my heart sinks. “I sent them home. They watch remotely from their office most days. No one is after me. I-I didn’t think it was necessary.” Tears fall from her face. “I was so stupid.”
“No, Sylvie. This is not normal, none of it. I need you to call your team. Then get me your guns and tell me how to get into that house. I’m going to scroll through the feed and find out how many people are in there.” Just as I turn my attention to the screen, I see two men drag Ashton into the room. I slam the lid shut so she can’t see. “Sylvie, you need to hurry.”
Nodding, she runs from the room, and I open the screen again.Oh my God. Please don’t be dead, Ash. Please don’t be dead.
