The man smiled, shrugged. Just another day at the office.
“What’s going on here?” Austin directed his question to Coleman. “Are you with Titus Security, or are you working for Seaver?”
“Are you running your business?” Coleman shot back. “Or hiding your daughter like a chicken shit?”
“That answers that question.” Austin lifted a chin to his team. “Hook ’em up, boys.”
By the time he and Sam had collected the weapons, the six hostiles stood with one arm linked through another teammate’s, their hands cuffed in front. “That’s a real pretty daisy chain, ladies. Le
t’s get going. Looks like we’re going to have a lot to talk about tonight.”
On the hike back, Austin asked Coleman everything from “How much is Seaver paying you?” to “What branch of the military were you with?”
The man never responded. But more immediately concerning, Everly wasn’t answering his calls or texts. Her plea not to open fire on the men kept replaying in his head. And by the time they congregated on the pool deck, Austin’s nerves were strung tight.
He let his team take care of the hostiles while Austin moved to the glass sliding doors off the dining room and punched in the code to the door lock. He’d left so quickly earlier, he hadn’t thought to grab his keys. But the door didn’t open.
“Everly,” he called. When he got no answer, he tried, “Renalda, it’s Austin.”
No one answered. He cut a look at the hostiles, his gaze lingering on Coleman. Strangely enough, Coleman watched Austin with intense concentration. Austin’s mind darted back to the cocktail party and Everly introducing the man to him. Dread joined the anxiety in his gut. These men had been watching him—from every vantage point. They’d tried to make inroads—with Everly and Austin. And the fact that Everly wasn’t already at the door struck a raw nerve.
“Dayum,” one of the hostile’s muttered. “Nice digs, man.”
“Like a fuckin’ day spa,” another commented. “Must be nice.”
“Shut up, girls,” Ty ordered.
“Deck,” he called. “Did you change the fucking code? It won’t open.”
“No, boss.” Decker recited the code Austin had tried. He punched it in again. “It’s not working. Throw me your keys.”
While Decker fished his keychain from his gear, Austin kept knocking on the door. And knocking. And knocking.
Decker finally tossed Austin his keys. He searched the mass of keys for the ones to the house. By the time he opened the back door, fear tightened his throat.
Renalda peeked out from the door to her room. Once she saw Austin, she scurried forward. “Oh, I sorry, Señor Hix,” she told him in broken English. “Everly say no let anyone in.”
“It’s okay.” He passed through the door, his gaze on the stairs. “Where are Everly and Bella?”
She shook her head. “No se.” She pointed toward the second floor. “Maybe Mirabella’s room?”
Austin took the stairs two at a time. His nerves felt like they were on fire. His intuition was screaming so hard, it rattled his skull. He passed his bedroom, the office, and grabbed hold of the doorframe to Bella’s room, slowing his momentum as he swung in.
And found it empty.
No Bella.
No Everly.
But even more disturbing—no Pauli.
His stomach dropped. Fear swamped his chest. He turned and yelled, “Bella! Everly!”
But he already knew his bellow would go unanswered. His heart could already feel their absence. He went room to room, yelling for them anyway. His office, his bedroom, the bathrooms.
Decker met him on the stairs. One look in his friend’s troubled eyes, and Austin crumbled inside. “They’re gone.”
“The guys are canvassing the property.” He grasped his arm in a show of support. “We’ll find them.”