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We’d installed this security measure after someone tried to poison Father. With a series of specific beeps, our phones were programmed to go off like this if there was an invasion in the house. For this alert to be going off now, it meant that someone in the property security team had detected a threat.
“Fuck.” I stood, holding Sloane close to me.
The moment was ruined. The desire slipped away completely.
She stared up at me, confused and alarmed. “What’s going on?”
“Stay with me.” I didn’t have time to answer her. Grabbing my gun from the side table where I’d set it when I took my seat, I took her hand and rushed toward the elevator.
Bringing her with me didn’t seem wise, but keeping her close was my first instinct. I couldn’t afford to worry about someone sneaking into my apartment and getting to her. Protective rage filled me with the need to look after my brothers, my father, my grandmother, and all the other men and women who swore loyalty to the family. But most of all, I couldn’t bear to think of Sloane being hurt.
“Stay with me,” I repeated as the elevator doors closed in on us. I held my gun in one hand and gave her a serious look. “Until I find a guard for you to stick with, stay with me no matter what.”
She nodded. Her brow was furrowed and she was all business at this moment. Like this, I saw exactly how much of a survivor she was and how much she’d had to always be cautious about being hurt. I hated that she wouldn’t be confident about her safety here, but as soon as we found the source of this threat, I’d explain that she would always be protected.
“But what does that alarm mean?” she asked. She glanced at my gun, not afraid, but sober about the chance that I might have to use it. “I don’t have any weapons or anything for defense and?—”
I shook my head. “Someone has broken in. It’s an alarm for a security threat on the property.”
I didn’t have any more time to explain. My pulse skyrocketed and I braced my body for action as the elevator doors slid open. Instead of taking her to the main floor where men would be available to usher her into the saferoom, I directed us to my father’s level. It was the right choice, because as we steppedout together, me going first to cover for her, I heard all the commotion.
Searching to the left, I saw no threats coming at us.
“Maxim,” Sloane said, tugging on my hand to make me look toward the right of the hall. “Your grandmother.”
We ran together toward the shape of my grandmother lying on the floor. She was trying to prop herself up, shaking her head slowly. Behind us, the sounds of footsteps clattered up the stairs. More help was coming, but with my knee-jerk decision to come to my father’s floor, we’d beaten them here.
“Maxim,” Grandmother said as we reached her. “He went that way…”
She lifted her finger and pointed down the corridor, and I whipped my head up to squint and see who could’ve gone there.
“Who?” I demanded as Sloane scooted closer on her knees, using her hand to help stem the bleeding on Grandmother’s temple. She didn’t hesitate, jumping in to help.
“A man. He came out of your father’s room just as I was walking by, and he struck out at me before getting away. Go.” She urged me to leave her on the floor with Sloane. Pointing again, she encouraged me to give chase. “Go get him!”
Help was on the way. Men would be swarming this area in a few more seconds. I hated to leave her wounded here like this in the hallway, but I wasn’t alone.
Sloane seemed to understand my hesitation. She nodded once, curtly, as she maintained that serious, stern expression of toughing out a challenge. “I’ll stay with her until help comes.”
I didn’t waste time to reply or thank her. Getting to my feet, I sprinted ahead to chase after whoever had dared to come in here and try to mess with my family again.
By the time I reached the other end of the hallway, more Ivanov soldiers were crowding into the area. “That way!” I ordered.
Nik and Saul came running, disheveled and concerned with guns in hand. “Grandmother is back there with Sloane.”
“What happened?” Saul asked.
“She said someone came out of Father’s room and ran this way.”
Nik scowled, instantly furious. “Fuck!” He took over delegating crews of soldiers to fan out. Within seconds, operating with the familiar sense of teamwork we always excelled at, we had men searching the premises. Multiple men were heading out to check whether any intruders remained on Father’s floor. More were dispatched to check the entire building. Most importantly, I ordered men to go back from where I’d come so they could help Sloane with my grandmother.
Together, Nik and Saul joined me in rushing to check on Father.
We slammed into his room without any pause, and it was with great relief that the nurse lying on the floor was getting back up.
“What happened?” I demanded of the young woman.
“Someone came in and…” She staggered to her feet, swallowing hard and reaching her hand up to her neck. Saul hurried toward her, helping her get up as she rubbed her neck and cringed. “Someone came in and attacked me. He came up from behind as I was tending to Mr. Ivanov’s catheter and…”