Five shapes. Five people. At least that she could see.
“No,” she moaned, even as she willed her brain to kick into action.
They’d prepared for this, hoping it would never happen, but knowing that with Sadie’s history, and Charity’s fame, it could.
“Charity,” she whispered. Finally getting the lead out of her butt, she turned and raced up the stairs three at a time, her toes slipping on the stupid slick surface.
“Baby, wake up,” she said as she burst into the room. She made no effort to be quiet and gently wake her daughter. The clock was ticking. She knew what they had to do, where they had to go.
Charity blinked at her, sitting up and letting the covers drop onto her lap. “What’s wrong, Mommy?”
“It’s time to play the hide-and-seek game, honey.”
The little girl’s big, blue eyes widened in excitement. “In the secret room?”
“Yep.”
Charity leapt out of the bed. “Can we slide?”
“You bet we can.”
“Yay!”
This was a game to her. A game they’d rehearsed as soon as the special construction had been completed, although never in the middle of the night.
“I gotta bring Coconut!” Char said. She reached for the fluffy white cat who’d been sleeping on the foot of the bed.
“Of course you do.” Sadie flung open the doors to Charity’s large, walk-in closet. She pushed racks of clothes aside and found the concealed control panel. She slammed her palm into the large red panic button that even Charity knew was to be used only in the direst of emergencies.
“You pushed the button,” her daughter whispered from behind her.
Sadie glanced over her shoulder, seeing Charity’s jaw drop open. “Yes, I did.”
“It’s real?”
“It’s real.”
Charity nodded, her expression solemn and mature as she grasped the true situation. She displayed no fear, only the slight tightening of her arms around the cat, revealing her rising tension.
“Should I shut the door? Like we practiced?”
“Yes, please. And shift the clothes back.”
Her daughter immediately did as instructed so anyone opening the door from the bedroom would see nothing out of the ordinary, not until they dug into the back corner and spied the control box. That would buy them some time.
Sadie punched the six-digit code into the electronic keypad. Before her eyes, the wall slid open, a cleverly concealed panel gliding out of the way.
“Ready?” she asked.
Charity moved past her, slowly and calmly. “Ready.”
Brushing a strand of hair off her daughter’s cheek, Sadie whispered, “It’s gonna be fine. Slide down, just like we practiced. I’ll be right behind you.” She pressed her lips on Charity’s forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Char said, and then she dropped to her bottom and scooted toward the edge of the opening. “Now don’t scratch me, Coconut, it’ll be over quick.”
Comforting her cat. God love her.
Charity didn’t make a sound as she shimmied farther, reaching the top of the slide. And then she shot down it, disappearing on the quick ride directly down into the safe room.
Trying to remember everything Raine Winchester had told her during the many times they’d gone over this plan, Sadie did a quick mental rundown. The safe room was incredibly secure, but nothing—not even the most well-thought-out plan—was entirely foolproof.
Buy as much time as you can. Cover your tracks, don’t make it easy for anyone to find you. Don’t leave a single clue that will lead them to you.
The lights were off in their bedrooms. Beds unmade, yes, but she couldn’t do anything about that now. Closet door closed and nothing hinting that they’d disappeared inside it.
Behind her, a ring alerted her to an incoming call on the control panel. She spun around and swept up the receiver.
“Sadie.” The crisp, strong voice immediately calmed her.
“Raine. They’re here. I saw five.”
He didn’t waste time asking her anything except, “Are you in the safe room?”
“Char just went down. I’m going now.”
“Good. Hang up and go right now. Don’t forget to hit the Secure All button when you get down there. I’ll make sure police are dispatched.”
“Thank y—”
A shrill shriek suddenly pierced her eardrums. The house had been breached.
“Oh God, they’re inside!” she said, her heart thudding, her whole body shaking.
“Stay calm. The alarm might scare them off.”
No, it wouldn’t, though Raine wouldn’t understand how she could be so certain of that and there was no time to explain.
This was no random robbery. Not with five people all dressed in black, moving so deliberately. If they were who she suspected them to be, no alarm would stop them.
“Go, Sadie. Go now,” he said, his strong voice cutting through the sound of the alarm and her panic.
“The police will be here in fifteen minutes?”
“Yeah,” he replied. “But I’ll be there in ten.”
About the Author
Leslie A. Kelly is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty novels and novellas. Known for their sexy humor, Leslie’s books have been honored with numerous awards, including the National Reader’s Choice Award, the Aspen Gold, the Golden Quill, the Write Touch, the Romantic Times Award, and four RWA-Rita nominations. Leslie is also a Career Achievement Award winner from Romantic Times magazine.
Although she has spent most of her life in Maryland and Florida, Leslie currently resides in Colorado with her husband and two fluffy, yappy little dogs, one of whom is now officially called the Coyote Warrior.
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