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It’s packed full of documents, and I start thumbing through them, not really sure what I’m looking for, but I’ll know when I find it. Coming up with nothing, I shove the box back onto the shelf before pulling out the next one, and right on top is a large tube. My eyes light up like Christmas morning, and I grab the tube before flipping it up to reach the top. I pry off the little circular lid and tip up the contents, watching as rolled-up papers fall out.
Blueprints.
Bingo.
Rolling them out across the ground, I feel like a fucking genius when I realize that not a damn thing has been labeled. There are at least twenty poster-sized blueprints in here, none of them detailing which part of Empire they showcase. It’s like trying to complete one of those puzzles where all the little pieces are the same color. I don’t doubt it was created this way on purpose. Empire is extremely secretive, and I’m sure they wanted to cover all their bases on the off chance these blueprints were to get in the wrong hands—like mine for example.
It’s impossible to tell what’s a walkway or corridor opposed to one of the entrance tunnels. What’s a prison cell or an open entertainment area. This is fucking bullshit. It’s going to take me ages to figure this shit out, time I simply don’t have.
I try to arrange the papers across the ground when I hear a soft buzzing sound coming from out in the office. My back stiffens, positive that I’ve been caught. I sit extremely still, holding my breath as I listen out, but nothing comes.
My brows furrow, and I slowly get to my feet, tiptoe across the storage room, and crane my neck to see out into the office. Finding the room empty with the door still closed, I let out a relieved breath. Then the same buzzing starts again.
What the fuck is that?
Moving through the room, I try to follow where it’s coming from, searching through the bookshelves on the opposite side of the room. I move things out of the way, positive that I won’t be able to put everything back where it belongs. It will be a dead giveaway for Zade, but hell, what’s he going to do? Kill me? Well shit. That’s nothing new.
Reaching up, I brush my hand along the top shelf, hoping there’s nothing sharp up there. Just before giving up my search, my hand curls around a phone. My brow arches, and I pull it down, a wide grin stretching across my face. It’s not just any phone. It’s my phone. I haven’t seen this thing since before Joe decided to take me for a joy ride to the pits of hell.
Unlocking my phone, I find a slew of texts from Cara, some missed calls, a shitload of emails, and about a thousand social media notifications. There are a bunch of other things, but it would take me too long to search through all of that now. All too aware that my time is quickly running out, I dart back into the storage room and drop to my knees in front of the blueprints. That’s when I realize I’m going to be here all day trying to sort them out. Shit!
Wanting to get out of here, I settle for taking a quick photo of each of the papers on my phone before quickly storing them in a secure folder. Though something tells me if Zade really wants to know what I’m doing on my phone, he could very easily figure it out.
Deciding that I have enough information to sort through for now, I hastily roll the blueprints up and shove them back inside the tube before capping it and placing it right back where I found it. Double checking I haven’t missed anything, I put the box back on the shelf and silently slip out of the storeroom, trying to work out how to close the secret door.
My phone feels like hot coals in my hand as I silently open the office door and peek out into the penthouse, listening to the familiar sounds of clanking weights in the home gym. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re all in there, but it’s a pretty clear indicator they’re not searching for me yet.
Certain the coast is clear, I hurry out into the kitchen before rushing through the living room and toward my old bedroom. Despite the room being nothing but an empty shell, I need privacy.
Barging through the door, I lock it behind me and fall back against it, sliding to the ground. Swiping my thumb across the screen, I enter my code and unlock it with every intention of going over the blueprints. Only my curiosity is far too great, and I open my text messages instead, reading the very latest from Cara.
