Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Even though she’d noticed discrepancies in the books and had made copies to protect herself, she hadn’t had any way of knowing how important her discovery could have been. Obviously, it was huge, or bad men wouldn’t have followed her all the way to New Zealand.
“Are any of the entrances breached? Windows? Doors?” Rocco asked.
“Doesn’t appear that way,” Magnus responded. “I see no evidence of any entry point being compromised.”
“Why would someone shoot out the camera if they weren’t going to approach and enter?” Kestrel asked.
Rocco straightened to his full height and ran a hand through his hair. “It was a test. They wanted to know how secure the building was.”
“Well, they know now, and we know they have guns despite New Zealand’s gun ban,” Caesar grumbled. “What time is it?”
“Five,” Hawking stated.
Magnus pointed at one of the screens. “The camera I was using to spot their van earlier is also down. They probably hit both of them at once. I bet they have their vehicle at that same location on the road just outside of the property.”
Rocco headed for a closet along one wall of the large living. He opened it to reveal rows and rows of various types of clothing. Most of it looked like it was intended for cold weather.
Sadie watched, thinking maybe he was looking for a T-shirt or something since all he had on were his sleep pants. He grabbed something and turned to head toward her.
Rocco settled beside her on the couch, blocking her from the others before tugging the sheet away. “Lift your arms, sweetheart.”
She immediately did as she was told, grateful when a huge thick sweatshirt slid down her body. She lifted her bottom to pull it farther down, almost to her knees.
Rocco chuckled as he rolled up first one sleeve and then the other far enough to let her hands stick out. “There.” He kissed her forehead again. “Guess Daddy better get you a long, thick robe and keep it next to the bed in case anything like this ever happens again.”
She couldn’t believe how calm he was.
Hawking suddenly came into view and reached forward, holding out a sippy cup of water. “Thought you might be thirsty, Sadie.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, a bit shaken by the fact that everyone in the room knew she was Little.
“Where’d you find that?” Rocco asked with a laugh.
Hawking shrugged. “The kitchen is so well stocked it has damn near anything a person could want. Found a drawer of sippy cups, plastic plates, and bowls.”
“Once again, Mr. Kingsley proves himself to be uber-prepared and all-knowing.”
Sadie took a long drink of the cool water. “Are you sure we’re safe in here?” She glanced around, continuing without waiting for an answer. “I didn’t know this basement even existed.”
“Yep. It’s our command center, as you can tell. We all have regular jobs with the resort, but this basement is where we’ll deal with threats that get thrown at us,” Rocco stated.
“Does that keycard you gave me work for this room, too?”
He shook his head. “No. It only works for the top floor. I’ll have to speak to Magnus, and perhaps Kingsley, about getting you clearance to enter the basement. I don’t like the idea of you not having a safe place to flee in an emergency.”
Hawking, still standing close by, nodded. “I agree. If I had a Little girl, I’d want her to have access to this basement.”
When the others trickled closer, Hawking turned to them. “I’m going to go investigate.” He nodded toward another closet door next to the one where Rocco had pulled out the sweatshirt. “Now, we know why Kingsley outfitted this bunker of sorts with state-of-the-art munitions.”
Sadie sat up straighter, holding her breath as she watched him stride across the room. He had obviously taken a few seconds to put some clothes on before descending to the basement because he wore jeans and a black, long-sleeved shirt. The others were all dressed like Rocco, mostly in sleep pants, either barefoot or with slippers.
When Hawking opened the second closet, Sadie gasped. It held a full arsenal. She’d noticed he’d used his thumb to open the closet. Thank God not just anyone could get into it.
As he pulled out several pieces and strapped them onto his body, she wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered.
Phoenix joined Hawking. “I’ll go with you.” He rustled through piles of jeans in the open clothes closet until he was satisfied with the size, shrugged into the dark pants and a dark shirt, and snagged a pair of boots next. After handing the first pair to Hawking, he grabbed a second.
“You a good shot?” Hawking asked.
Phoenix smirked. “My father was Army long before I was. He had me at the range by the time I could stand.” Phoenix grabbed a handgun and tucked it into a holster, which he stretched across his chest. “Ready.”