Page 29 of Duty Unbound

I grabbed Nova’s arm, pulling her toward the en suite bathroom. “We need to go in here.”

“My phone!” she protested, reaching back for it.

“Bring it,” I urged, keeping Ethan on the line with my other hand.

Once inside the bathroom, I locked the door. “We’re in.”

“Do you have any weapons in the house?” Ethan asked.

“No,” I replied, scanning the spacious marble bathroom for anything useful.

Nova paced behind me, still focused on her phone. “This is a disaster! It’s already got thirty thousand views!”

“Look around,” Ethan continued, his voice steady in my ear. “Hair spray can be used as a weapon—aim for the eyes. Heavy objects, perfume bottles, anything you can throw.”

I spotted a heavy crystal candle on the counter and grabbed it. “Got it.”

“Is there something you can barricade the door with? A chair? Hamper?”

I dragged Nova’s makeup chair over, wedging it under the doorknob. “Done.”

“Hey,” he said gently. “You’re doing great. I’ve got Ty calling the police. They should be there soon.”

I put the phone on speaker and set it on the counter. “You’re on speaker now.”

“Nova?” Ethan’s voice filled the bathroom. “I need you to focus. Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not okay!” she snapped, waving her phone. “Some creep just posted a video of me changing clothes, and the lighting is god-awful! My publicist is going to have a meltdown!”

“I understand this is upsetting,” Ethan replied, his patience surprising me. “But right now, I need you to help Mel. If someone tries to get into that bathroom, you two need to work together.”

“But—”

“Nova.” His tone remained firm but gentle. “The video can be addressed later. Right now, your safety is what matters. Stand on the opposite side of the bathroom from Mel. If anyone tries to break through that door, you’ll have a better chance if you’re not both in the same spot.”

To my shock, Nova actually listened, moving to the far end of the bathroom. “Okay.”

“Now, I want both of you to find something you can use to defend yourselves. Anything heavy or sharp.”

I heard the sound of a car engine roaring to life on Ethan’s end. “I’m driving to you now. Stay on the line.”

The minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Nova paced her end of the bathroom, alternating between checking her phone and glancing nervously at the door. I remained frozen in place, candle clutched in my white-knuckled grip, listening for any sound from the bedroom beyond.

“Talk to me, Mel,” Ethan said after several minutes of silence. “What are you hearing?”

“Nothing,” I whispered. “The house is quiet.”

“That’s good. Hopefully the guy ran off. The police shouldbe arriving any minute. When they do, don’t open the door until I verify it’s really them.”

As if on cue, the distant wail of sirens reached us, growing steadily louder until they cut off abruptly. Car doors slammed. Heavy footsteps moved through the house.

A sharp knock rattled the bathroom door. “Police! Is anyone in there?”

I jumped, nearly dropping the candle. “Ethan?”

“I’ll check and make sure it’s them,” he said. “Hang on.”

The line went silent as he hung up. Nova shot me a panicked look. “Should we open it?”