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Me: No, Kinsey needs you. I’m going to entrust everything into the Silversteins’ hands. We will reconvene when Kinsey is safe.
Arsehole: Got it. Starting evac now.
An alarm blares through the air, startling Anita. I motion for her to cover her ears and follow me up the stairs. I click through my phone, checking the security fields one more time before I shoot a text to Holly. She might panic if she doesn’t know what’s going on, but she’s also probably with Beckett.
Me: Holly, meet Anita at the top of the stairs. I need you to get all the omegas into the panic room. We’re going to evacuate. We got information from Rommel that shit’s going down. Wilder thinks it could be explosives.
Baby Sis: Fuck. Okay.
I love the bravery of my little sister. It makes me feel like I have done at least some things right in life, teaching her to be empowered and to have confidence. My brothers and I have ensured that she isn’t one to easily bow or break.
“When we reach the main floor, stay close. I’m going to lead you to the stairs, and you’re going to meet Holly there. She’s going to take you guys to the panic room.” I reach the top of the stairs and kick open the door, not bothering to take it slow and easy. My adrenaline pumps, my ears pounding. The alarm continues to ring, but apart from that, there’s no one around.
It’s too quiet. Unsettling. I brace myself for the worst.
Nothing happens.
The grand hallway stays clear all the way to the curved staircase leading up. I motion to Anita to hurry, and I jog forward, heading toward the staff wing. They should already be evacuating, but I won’t leave until I know that they’re safe. As their alpha, it is my duty to protect them.
Unease flows through me, prodding at my deep-seated nature. My muscles remain tense, my movements precise. I steal myself passing every archway and door, expecting one of our enemies to pop out to try to kill me.
Again, the palace in this location remains still. The alarms continue to ring, but I tune them out. I focus on movement. Any screaming. Something to alert me.
I slow down, passing the grand dining hall, and making my way to the kitchen. There’s a servant door through the back, so this would be one of the evacuation locations.
I push open the swinging door, spotting no one.
Fuck. There are people here.
I didn’t notice them at first because a couple of bodies lay on the floor. How the fuck did this happen?
I charge forward and flip over our head chef, pressing my fingers to his throat. His pulse thrums steadily, bringing me great relief. He’s alive.
Scooping my arms under him, I lift him up and rush toward the back exit, sitting him down outside. I go back for another one of our servants, double-checking to make sure she’s still breathing as well. They’ve all been knocked out.
I blink my eyes, my body starting to feel heavy. It’s still in the air. Fuck me. If I don’t get out of here, it’ll knock me unconscious too.
I pull my shirt up over my nose, holding my breath to relocate the sous chef. There are about five more staff members in here, but I’m not sure I’m going to get to everyone.
The alarms turn off, the residual sound still ringing in my ears. At least Desmond muted them, making it easier to focus. If any of our awake staff members haven’t heard evacuation alarms by now, then something else is up with them.
Baby Sis: SOS! Help us!
Holy shit. I don’t even have to ask her what’s going on to know that the omegas have been affected too. I’m torn between helping the staff here and running upstairs. But Holly will always come first. My family. Does it make me a bad man? Maybe. I never claimed to be good, though.
I shoot a text to Arsenio, telling him the situation.
My phone chimes, but I don’t look at it. I need to get upstairs.
I charge from the kitchen, my boots thudding on the floor. All I can think about is a ticking clock, counting down the seconds until something catastrophic happens. It’s the not knowing that freaks me out. And there’s nothing more that I hate than being scared. Nothing should scare me.
But I know I’m not invincible.
“Holly!” I yell, keeping my shirt over my nose despite it leaving me vulnerable to a physical attack if someone were to pop out from one of the rooms. Staying conscious is a priority, though. I can fight with my hands if I have to.
“Enzo! I can’t get into one of the suites. The omegas are all passed out in the other. Something’s going on.” Holly stands at the top of the stairs, covering her nose and mouth just as I am. She knows how to handle emergency situations just as well. “It’s taking too long for me, and I need help carrying them. I have a massive headache. I’m scared.”
I bound up the stairs, taking two at a time until I reach Holly. “Get Anita and head to the tunnels. I don’t want you going to the panic room in case. Head to the garage. Wilder is already there.”
