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“This is one of the rooms the other set of stairs leads to. So you could go from the room we were just in over to Mr. Foster’s room.”
Honestly, it would be weird sleeping in a room that has a secret entrance. “I wonder how old this house is.”
“It was built in the sixties,” Niallan says behind me.
I spin and lose my balance, crashing against the wall. Niallan is there, grabbing my arm to keep me upright.
“Are you okay?”
Embarrassment heats my face. “I don’t know what that was. I’m totally fine. I think I just spun too fast.”
“I hope it’s okay that we’re exploring the house,” Cohen says.
"Yes. It's a quirky house with back passages and secret entries into many rooms. The only room without a secret entrance is the one you're in, Adali."
I lift my eyebrows at his declaration. “Is that why I was put in that room?”
“Yes. I don’t like people entering my room through the secret passages. The rooms with secret entrances are only for the family. I’ve got a dresser in front of the entrance into my room. I know Dad doesn’t mind if family enters his room, but I can’t rest easy if I think someone is coming in. It used to freak me out to find my mother watching me sleep. Also, the housekeeper used to come up that way. When I was old enough to move the dresser on my own, I moved it.”
“What about for a fast escape?” Cohen asks.
Niallan shrugs. “I haven’t thought I’d need to make one, but with everything going on, maybe I need a way to get out of my room.”
“You might want to think of it. The entrance from the kitchen is hidden, isn’t it?” Cohen asked.
“Yes. And I hope you don’t spread this around your circles,” Niallan says.
“I know nothing about this house. My job is secure because I don’t gossip about people I work for. No one knows what I do in my private life. They all think I sell insurance, which in a way is true. I’m ensuring nothing happens to you, so I don’t feel like I’m lying. And if you wag your tongue in my industry, it gets around. People don’t want to hire gossips.”
Niallan nods, and I narrow my gaze at Cohen. "Do you like working for them? Like you aren't working for one family, right?"
"It's a job, and I don't need my own company. Few families have full-time security guards. I'm here during the day, and another guy comes at night. There's no way we could keep up if we were here all the time."
“That’s true. We had multiple guys working for us before. I know we’ll need to hire more people. I don’t know exactly what to do, but I know we’re not in the clear yet.”
We continue on, taking in the other five bedrooms and the two sitting rooms. There's also a movie watching room and a game room. The house is enormous, and I'm not sure I'll remember exactly where everything is. All the other rooms are connected to the secret passageways. It makes sense since most of the rooms have two to three feet deep entryways where the stairs are built.
On the first floor, Niallan shows us around then opens the door to what looks like a state-of-the-art gym. It's got equipment I don't even know what to do with. Pleasure slides through me. I can work out now. I steal a glance at Niallan, hoping he nor his father restrict my access to this room.
“I need this room.”
Niallan shoots a side-eye at me. “You look great.”
"I was out of breath climbing those stairs. I need to work out."
"Well, we have a stair machine, rower, bike, and tread. You can get a good workout in at any time, and you don't even have to leave the house. There are TVs, and music can be played over the speakers."
Pleasure fills me. “This is awesome. I know I’ll be in here later.”
“Speaking of later, I need to go out for something. Cohen, I’d like you to stay with Miss Adali. I need her to be safe.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll make sure nothing happens.”
I shake my head. “How can you do that? Those men broke in so fast last time.”
“I’ll be paying attention. I also set up the alarms at the gate and along the fence to alert me if there is movement. It means I have to deal with an occasional false trigger from a bird, but that’s okay.”
I narrow my gaze and turn to Niallan. “I’m surprised you didn’t have that activated.”
