Page 27 of From the Shadows

“Garrick just informed me that Chantal called the house line. Said she’s been called away and needed to bring Evie here. She’s with⁠—”

I stop and turn, my hand stalled on its path to shove my hair back from my face. “What are you saying? Evie’s here, at the estate? Where is she?” This is the last thing, the last fucking thing, I ever wanted to happen. My whole goal has been to keep Evie safe and completely removed from this life.

She cannot be here. Absolutely not.

“She’s safe. Winnie has her in the nursery; they’re playing with all the new toys for the baby and reading books. She’s fine.”

Fine isn’t good enough, not for my kid.

I push past Christophe and storm out into the entry hall. Beyond that, I don’t honestly know which way to go first in my search for my daughter. All I know is I have to get to her and get her out of here. The threat of a deviant roaming these halls—and that it may well be the most trusted house employee—is too much for me to handle.

When Christophe deigns to lay a hand on me, I seethe. “Take me to my daughter. Now.”

He stares at me for far too long with an infuriating level of calm. I want to wring his neck. I want to strangle him with my bare hands, kill him in a very gore-free manner for even thinking of holding me back from Evie.

But the bastard just stands there staring at me. Assessing, thinking, making decisions that I don’t appreciate not being a part of.

“Okay.”

That’s all he says. One word, and then he stalks off down the hallway with my compliance assumed.

I don’t have long to fume as we climb the stairs and turn a corner, arriving at what has to be the most stunning child-centered room imaginable. The door is already ajar allowing me the opportunity to see Evie and assess her contentedness without interrupting the sweet moment between her and Winnie. It’s beautiful the way Winnie points to pictures as she reads to my daughter; the promise of all the maternal love that they’ve both missed out on makes my heart ache.

This is what I want for my daughter. But not here. Not in this world, unprotected and so fucking vulnerable.

“The door is open. Unsecured. If you think there’s someone in your fold who’s putting your household in danger, how can you tell me my daughter is safe here?” I keep my voice low, but there is no hiding the fear coiling with anger at just how exposed the most precious thing in my life is.

Tension ripples off Christophe as he explains, “There are silent alarms on the room, cameras strategically placed, and a panic button. I had eyes on them the entire time we were in my office. Not to mention there’s a tracker embedded in the hem of your daughter’s dress.” He pins me with his stare adding weight to the already serious declaration. “I protect what’s mine. You and yours, in my house, fall under that designation. Nothing will happen to her here⁠—”

I cut him off. “What about”—I glance down the hall in both directions and lower my tone—“Garrick?”

Christophe gives his head a small, sharp shake, the movement subtle enough not to draw attention but decisive enough not to invite further exploration.

Not here.

Not now.

“Let’s talk. Not in my office, out on the patio.”

I stand a moment longer, watching, trying to convince myself that she’s safe. It’s a hard sell despite what Christophe claims. It’s not until Winnie lifts her gaze to meet mine, no stutter or hesitation in her recounting of the story she’s sharing. She presses a kiss to the top of Evie’s head and nods, a silent vow to watch over my precious girl.

I weave through the mansion scanning nonstop for anything or anyone out of place. I don’t know if I expect one of the staff to be sporting a name tag reading Hello, my name is Bad Guy or what.

I don’t encounter that, nor do I run into Teague or Jess. Or Garrick, though that’s probably for the best at the moment.

As I reach the French doors that lead out to the flagstone patio, Hibou pushes through a door that leads from the servant’s area.

“Where is everyone?” he asks around a mouthful of sandwich. “Been looking for the big guy and can’t find him.”

I clock Christophe stepping out of sight, his focus soundly on the doctor. “No idea. Have you seen Teague? I need to run something by him before I get out of here for the day.”

Mostly, I need to ask another favor of Jess, but where one is the other is likely close by. The details of the scope of changes to her work can’t be a quick conversation.

“Nah. I try to stay out of his way unless I can’t avoid it. Fucker is crazy.” He shoves more of his sandwich in his mouth, crumbs falling down the front of his shirt as he chews. Loudly.

Though it’s the last thing I want to waste my time doing, I stand and blandly stare at him. Patience and all that. If I stalk out the door, I’ll lead him straight to Christophe, and the man gave off discernable vibes that he didn’t want to be seen by the doctor.

So I wait. And I wait. And I wait some more.