Chapter 2 - THE MAN AT THE SERVICE DOOR
Grace did not reach for Evan.
She screamed.
The sound tore through Lily.
“No!”
Grace buried her face against Grant's shoulder.
Evan's smile disappeared.
Grant slowly positioned himself between Evan and Lily.
“You're trespassing.”
Evan laughed.
“That's the billionaire response?”
“You have ten seconds to put down the weapon.”
“Or what?”
Grant raised his gun.
“Find out.”
Blair stepped backward.
Evan looked at her.
Only once.
But Lily saw it.
So did Grant.
“You know him,” Grant said.
Blair's face went pale.
“No.”
Evan smiled again.
“That's cold, Blair.”
Grant looked at his fiancée.
The silence became more dangerous than the guns.
“Blair?”
“He's lying.”
“Am I?” Evan asked.
Blair's voice sharpened.
“Shut up.”
There it was.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
Lily felt sick.
Evan had not found the estate by accident.
Blair knew him.
Grant's security team appeared at the opposite end of the corridor.
Evan fired at the ceiling.
Everyone ducked.
He kicked open the service door and disappeared into the darkness.
Two guards followed.
Grant did not.
He remained with Lily and Grace.
Blair stared at him.
“You let him escape.”
“I chose the child standing in a hallway during a gunfight.”
Grace tightened her arms around Grant.
Blair looked at her.
Something ugly flashed across her face.
Grant noticed.
“Go upstairs.”
“You don't order me—”
“Upstairs, Blair.”
She left.
Lily reached for Grace.
The little girl refused to release Grant.
“Sweetheart.”
“No.”
Lily blinked.
Grace peeked at Grant.
“Big man safe.”
Despite everything, Grant almost smiled.
“Big man?”
Grace nodded.
Lily covered her eyes for one second.
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't be.”
Grant carried Grace to the library.
Security sealed the room.
Daniel Cross entered twenty minutes later.
“We lost Mercer near the eastern woods.”
“How?”
“He had a vehicle waiting.”
“Inside or outside the gate?”
“Inside.”
Grant looked at Lily.
An inside accomplice.
Daniel continued.
“We found the source of the camera failure.”
“Who?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Mrs. Sutton's security code was used.”
Blair.
Grant said nothing.
Lily watched the man she worked for absorb the possibility that the woman he planned to marry had helped her former boyfriend break into his home.
“Where is Blair?” Grant asked.
“Her room.”
“Two guards at the door.”
Daniel nodded.
Grant looked at Lily.
“You and Grace are leaving tonight.”
Her heart dropped.
“I knew it.”
His eyebrows drew together.
“Knew what?”
“You're firing me.”
“No.”
“You said we're leaving.”
“You are moving to my Manhattan residence until I know why Mercer wants access to this house.”
“I can't.”
“You can.”
“Mr. Ashford—”
“Grant.”
“What?”
“You're holding my shirt.”
Lily looked down.
Her fingers were twisted in the front of his jacket.
She released him.
“Sorry.”
Grace was asleep in his arms.
Grant looked at the child.
Then at Lily.
“You are not losing your job.”
“Why?”
The question escaped before she could stop it.
Grant seemed surprised.
“Why would you?”
“Because Blair doesn't like me.”
“Blair does not decide who I employ.”
“She acts like she does.”
Another uncomfortable truth.
Grant handed Grace carefully to Lily.
The child whimpered but remained asleep.
“I should have noticed.”
Lily's expression softened despite herself.
“Noticing the staff is not usually part of being a billionaire.”
“Perhaps it should be.”
Daniel returned.
“Sir.”
He held Blair's phone.
“We found messages.”
Grant took it.
Lily watched his face.
“What?”
He showed Daniel the screen.
Daniel swore.
Lily stepped closer.
The message thread was between Blair and a saved contact named E.M.
Evan Mercer.
The most recent message had been sent during dinner.
THE KID SAW TOO MUCH.
Blair had replied.
THEN HANDLE THE MOTHER BEFORE GRANT STARTS ASKING QUESTIONS.
Lily stopped breathing.
Grant read the message again.
His hand tightened around the phone.
Blair had not merely known Evan.
She had sent him after Lily.
Grant looked toward the ceiling.
Toward the room where his fiancée waited.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“Call the police.”
Lily stared at him.
May you like
Grant's expression was colder than anything she had seen.
“And cancel my wedding.”
