Page 96 of He Knows When You're Awake

“The estate on Hillcrest.” The words taste bitter. Claire’s studio is still there, untouched since that night. Julian’s been waiting all these years to draw me back to where it started.

“That’s my guess. I’ve got eyes on it now.” Knox’s jaw tightens. “We’ll know for certain soon.”

“How the fuck did this happen?” I snap. “How the hell did he get past security?”

Knox sighs. “Everyone wanted to be with their families for the holidays. No fucking excuse, but we became a skeleton crew. And the guard on duty manning the entrance conveniently had a bathroom break at the time. Don’t worry, we’ll get to the bottom of it and make the responsible party pay.”

“Be sure that you do.”

Knox nods, already typing on his phone. “I’ve got teams moving into position. By morning, we’ll have options.”

The phone starts ringing again.

I silence it without looking, then walk to where Havoc sits anxiously by the tree. He nuzzles my hand as I scratch behind his ears, his whole body trembling slightly.

“I know, buddy,” I murmur. “We’ll get her back.”

The words catch in my throat as reality crashes over me. How could I have been so blind? I’d anticipated Julian’s moves like this was still just business—expected him to go after her designs, try to sabotage her work. But kidnapping? I convinced myself he wouldn’t dare, that he wouldn’t risk something so bold.

And why? Because it didn’t fit the pattern? Because it wasn’t his style?

This is the man who murdered his own wife. Who orchestrated Claire’s “accident” with such precision that even now, five years later, no one can prove otherwise. And I what—thought he’d stop at corporate espionage when it came to Sloane?

I let my guard down. Worse, I let her guard down. Sent the security team home. Ignored the signs. All because I couldn’t admit that Julian’s obsession with destroying me had nothing to do with business anymore.

“Hold on, Sloane,” I whisper to the empty room. The thought of making her wait, of leaving her with him for even one more minute, makes me physically sick. But she’s strong—stronger than Julian knows, stronger maybe than I deserve. “Just hold on. Be smart. Be the woman who never backs down, who looks danger in the eye and raises an eyebrow at it. I’m coming. I swear to god I’m coming.”

Snow falls steadily outside the windows, each minute feeling like an eternity. But I force myself to stay still, to breathe through the rage burning in my chest. Because Sloane’s life depends on me being smarter than my instincts right now.

Julian wants me desperate. Wants me reckless.

He’ll have to settle for ruthless instead.

Chapter Thirty-EightSloane

Where. The. Hell. Is. He?

I stare at the ornate clock on the wall, forcing my breathing to steady. The silk tie around my wrists is tight enough to remind me of my situation but not enough to cut off circulation.

The minute hand moves again. Another fifteen minutes gone. Why isn’t he here? What if something happened to him? What if they hurt him? What if this is all some elaborate revenge plot and he’s lying somewhere, bleeding out, while I sit here uselessly tied to a chair? What if—

No. Stop it. Think.

Julian stares at the biometric scanner in disbelief, his composure finally shattered as the red warning flashes across the screen: “ACCESS DENIED. MAXIMUM ATTEMPTS EXCEEDED. SYSTEM LOCKDOWN INITIATED.”

“What does that mean?” he demands, rounding on the Russian holding the device.

“It’s bad,” the man says, backing away slightly. “Very bad. System’s locked now. We need the override code.”

Julian’s face contorts with rage. “Override it!”

“I cannot. We need the special code. From him.” The Russian looks genuinely afraid now. “From Asher.”

I can’t help the triumphant smile that spreads across my face,despite the stinging in my cheeks from all their attempts to force me into a neutral expression. My little facial gymnastics routine worked better than I’d hoped.

Julian notices my smile and strikes like a snake, the back of his hand connecting with my cheek hard enough to snap my head to the side.

“You think this is funny?” he seethes. “You knew exactly what would happen.”