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“It’s possible you are collateral damage to something I did in my past.”
I eased her toward the front, glaring at the parked SUVs. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary or damaged, but at this point it might not mean anything. “Stay right where you are for just a couple minutes until my men sweep the house.”
“Where are you going?” she asked. “Don’t leave me alone.”
She’d been jarred more than she wanted to admit.
“Don’t worry, my beautiful doll. I’m not leaving. I’m just glancing at the house. Okay?” The touch of her face against my cheek was enough to set the embers inside ablaze.
“Thank you.”
“Just doing my job.”
Her eyes opened wide, a moment of resignation crossing through them. “Of course. A payback for my father saving you. I understand completely.”
“That’s not it.”
No, I doubted she could understand anything about what was going on, but I didn’t have the time to explain any further. While I wanted nothing more than to carry her to bed, fucking her for hours, not only was it something I wouldn’t do, it was also something that would cost us more than I originally thought. My guard had fallen for long enough. I had to become the very monster she’d accused me of being to provide adequate protection.
I squeezed her arm, pulling away and crouching down so I could peer under both vehicles. Thankfully, there were no bombs ormethods of surveillance, but I’d have one of the men sweep both before we headed out.
Only a few seconds later, Daniel took long strides toward me, exiting through the front entrance. He moved to where I stood. “She was right. But it’s not blood on the roses, just red paint that the asshole found in the garage.”
“How the hell did the asshole get onto the goddamn grounds let alone inside the locked facility without being seen?”
“I don’t have all the answers, boss, but I’m questioning the men. However, I’m fairly certain he got into the garage through the door in the back. The lock was broken recently.”
“Fuck. How the hell did the perpetrator bypass the security? I need to know.”
He shook his head. “Believe it or not, the garage isn’t on the main system except for the one leading into the house.”
“Which our mystery guest had to know.”
“Likely. I swept the house though and it appears the warning was actually meant for you. I found this on the desk in Brandon’s office.”
The small envelope in his hand had a spot of red on it. I pulled it to my nose, trying to keep from reacting given Delaney was watching me intently.
“That could mean he’s been here before, likely for a party or another open event.” I was just talking to myself more than to my soldier, but he nodded anyway.
Rocco made his way toward me, joining us. “The estate is clear. However, there’s a disturbance at the back of the grounds where it appears whoever it was came through the thick hedges.”
Where we had no cameras and no security given the way the grounds had been established. Brandon hadn’t planned that someone would threaten his family.
“What is it?” Delaney asked as she walked closer, her lips pinched.
“We shall see.” I peeled the flap, tugging the small card into my hand. Calligraphy had been used to spell out the few words.
Now, I take from you.
What the fuck was going on? My head was spinning from possibilities.
“Let me see it,” Delaney insisted.
I allowed my men to look at it first before handing it to her. While the last thing I wanted to do was terrify her any more than she already had been, she had to understand now that what we were dealing with was dangerous, more so than I’d expected.
To her credit, she merely read the words, as if memorizing them. Then she lifted her head. “Was this meant for my father or for you?”
“That’s what I’m going to figure out, but it’s becoming more apparent that one of my family enemies has placed you as a direct target. Get your things together. We’re leaving. For now we’re going to my house where I can better protect you.”
