Page 46 of Wrecked

Mack is waiting for us at the top of the staircase, looking tense as hell.

“What’s going on?” Beth asks when we reach the second floor.

“Take her to the safe room,” Mack tells me. “I’ll watch the entrance and wait for Shane and the others to arrive.”

“Shane?” she says. “Why is he coming here?”

There’s no time for explanations, not until she’s safe. I steer her down the hallway, past the administrative offices, to an unmarked door, where I punch in the security code.

The door unlocks with a loud click. I open it and push her inside. The room’s pitch black because it has no windows.

Beth tries to back out, but I’m blocking her way. She’s starting to freak out, so I search out the light switch and flip it.

We’re in a high-tech control room, with a table of computers and monitors and about ten closed-circuit viewing screens, all aimed at different sections of the store.

“What is this place?” she asks. She sounds like she’s in awe.

I close the door behind us, securing the room. There’s a loud snick as the electronic lock engages. No one can get in this room without the code. “Have a seat.”

There’s a small seating area with a sofa, some armchairs, and a low coffee table. The room was designed to be comfortable. There’s a coffeemaker and a microwave oven next to a minifridge. I know the cupboards are filled with a variety of snacks.

“Make yourself comfortable,” I say.

She sits, her complexion ashen. “Sam, what’s going on?”

I quickly scan the bank of monitors, paying close attention to the view of the front entrance. There are two plain-clothed security guards scrutinizing everyone who comes into the store.

“Sam!” Beth cries. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“Howard Kline is on his way here. The surveillance team raised the alarm. Shane and Jake are both on their way. Shane instructed us to bring you here to the safe room and secure you.”

“Kline’s cominghere?” The pitch of her voice rises sharply. “Are you sure?”

I explain to her that the article clued him in as to where she works.

We see on one of the monitors the moment when Shane and his brother Jake arrive at the store. They quickly head for the stairs. A moment later, Lia walks into the store and races for the stairs.

I give it thirty seconds before they’re at our door. Sure enough, it’s not long before we hear a buzzing sound and a click, followed by the door opening. Shane walks in, followed by Lia.

Lia joins Beth on the sofa. “You caused quite a commotion today with your juicy newspaper interview!”

Beth frowns. “Did you read it? It’s awful!”

Shane is talking to his brother Jake over their ear comms, tracking Howard Kline’s current location. “Kline’s ETA is six minutes,” he says. “He’s off the bus and walking this way.”

The next half-hour is intense as Shane and his team monitor Kline’s whereabouts. Mack’s down there, as is Jake. They’ll make sure the staff and customers are safe.

When he arrives, Kline walks around the store, presumably searching for Beth, and when he ultimately doesn’t find her, he leaves.

Once the coast is clear and the threat is over, Shane tells Beth, “Let’s go, sweetheart. I’m taking you home. You’ve had enough excitement for one day.”

Then he presses the mic button on his comm unit. “Jake, Lia, Mack, come back to the penthouse with us. We need to review security protocols at the bookstore.”

Then, he extends his hand to me and we shake. “Thank you, Sam, for taking care of Beth. Why don’t you come, too? You’re a key part of the team now.”

I nod. “Sure. No problem.”

I’m glad to be included, but then I realize,oh shit! What are the odds that Cooper will be there, too?