"What time did Christian call you?"
Sawyer flushes. "About nine thirty, ma'am."
"Why didn't you interrupt my conversation with Kate so I could speak with him?"
"Mr. Grey told me not to."
I purse my lips. The elevator arrives, and we ride up in silence. I'm suddenly grateful that Christian has a whole night to recover from his snit-fit, and that he's on the other side of the country. It gives me some time. On the other hand . . . I miss him.
The doors to the elevator open, and for a split second I stare at the foyer table. What is wrong with this picture? The vase of flowers lies smashed into fragments all over the floor of the foyer, water and flowers and chunks of china are strewn everywhere, and the table is overturned. Sawyer grabs my arm and pulls me back into the elevator.
"Stay there," he hisses, drawing a gun. He steps into the foyer and disappears from my field of vision.
Oh no! I cower in the back of the elevator. What's going on?
"Luke!" I hear Ryan call from inside the great room. "Code blue!"
Code blue?
"You have the perp?" Sawyer calls back. "Jesus H. Christ!"
I flatten myself against the elevator wall. What the hell is happening? Adrenaline spikes through my body, and my heart leaps into my throat. I hear soft voices, and a moment later Sawyer reappears in the foyer, standing in the puddle of water. He reholsters his gun.
"You can come in, Mrs. Grey," he says gently.
"What's happened, Luke?" My voice is barely a whisper.
"We've had a visitor." He takes my elbow, and I'm grateful for the support - my legs have turned to jelly. I walk with him through the open double doors.
Ryan is standing at the entrance of the great room. A cut above his eye is bleeding, and there's another on his mouth. He looks roughed up, his clothes disheveled. But what's more shocking is Mr. Jack Hyde slumped at his feet.
Chapter Ten
My heart is pounding and blood thrums loudly in my eardrums; the alcohol flowing through my system, amplifying the sound.
"Is he - " I gasp, unable to finish the sentence and gazing wideeyed and terrified at Ryan. I can't even look at the prone figure on the floor.
"No, ma'am. Just knocked out cold."
Relief floods through me. Oh thank God.
"And you?" I ask, gazing at Ryan. I realize I don't know his first name. He's panting as if he's run a marathon. He wipes the corner of his mouth, removing the trace of blood, and a faint bruise is forming on his cheek.
"He put up one hell of a fight, but I'm okay, Mrs. Grey." He smiles reassuringly. If I knew him better, I'd say he looked a little smug.
"And Gail? Mrs. Jones?" Oh no . . . is she okay? Has she been harmed?
"I'm here, Ana." Glancing behind me, she's in a nightdress and robe, her hair loose, her face ashen and her eyes wide - like mine, I imagine.
"Ryan woke me. Insisted I come in here." She points behind her into Taylor's office. "I'm fine. Are you okay?"
I nod briskly and realize she's probably just come out of the panic room built adjoining Taylor's office. Who knew we'd need it so soon?
Christian had insisted on its installation shortly after our engagement -
and I had rolled my eyes. Now, seeing Gail standing in the doorway, I'm grateful for his foresight.
A creak from the door to the foyer distracts me. It's hanging off its hinges. What the hell happened to that?
"Was he alone?" I ask Ryan.
"Yes, ma'am. You wouldn't be standing here if he wasn't, I can assure you." Ryan sounds vaguely affronted.
"How did he get in?" I ask, ignoring his tone.
"Through the service elevator. He's got quite a pair, ma'am."
I stare down at Jack's slumped figure. He's wearing a uniform of sorts - coveralls, I think.
"When?"
"About ten minutes ago. I caught him on the security monitor. He was wearing gloves . . . kinda strange in August. I recognized him and decided to give him access. That way I knew we'd have him. You weren't here and Gail was safe, so I figured it was now or never." Ryan looks very pleased with himself once more, and Sawyer scowls at him in disapproval.
Gloves? The thought distracts me, and I glance once more at Jack. Yes, he's wearing brown leather gloves. Creepy.
"What now?" I try to dismiss the ramifications from my mind.
"We need to secure him," Ryan replies.
"Secure him?"
"In case he wakes." Ryan glances at Sawyer.
"What do you need?" asks Mrs. Jones, stepping forward. She's recovered her composure.
"Something to restrain him - cord or rope," Ryan replies. Cable ties. I flush as memories of the previous night invade my mind. Reflexively, I rub my wrists and glance quickly down at them. No, no bruising. Good.
"I have something. Cable ties. Will they do?"
All eyes turn to me.
"Yes, ma'am. Perfect," Sawyer says, serious and straight-faced. I want the floor to swallow me up, but I turn and head for our bedroom. Sometimes you just have to brazen things out. Perhaps it's the combination of fear and alcohol making me audacious. When I return, Mrs. Jones is surveying the mess in the foyer and Miss Prescott has joined the security team. I hand the ties to Sawyer, who slowly, and with frankly unnecessary care, ties Hyde's hands behind his back. Mrs. Jones disappears into the kitchen and returns with a first aid kit. She takes Ryan's arm, leads him into the doorway of the great room and starts tending to the cut above his eye. He flinches as she dabs it with an antiseptic wipe. Then I notice the Glock on the floor with a silencer attached. Holy shit! Jack was armed? Bile rises in my throat and I fight it down.