Page 44 of Broken Empire
“I don’t know. I’d need to see it,” Davina replied. Leah turned her phone screen to face her, and she nodded. “Yes. That’s it.”
I stared at her. She looked like she was telling the truth, but I couldn’t be sure. “For your sake, I hope you’re not lying.”
Davina gulped. “I’m not. I swear.”
Leah pulled me aside. “What do we do now?” she asked in a low voice. “We can’t just drive up there and walk right into the house, can we?”
I shook my head, lips set in a thin line. “No. But it’s okay. I have an idea.” I turned my attention back to Davina and snapped my fingers under her chin. “You’re coming with us.”
14
Killian
“This is the place.”
I braked and pulled over on the edge of the road, peering at the wrought iron gate on the other side. A lengthy driveway lined with trees and hedges lay beyond it. In the distance stood a towering gray Victorian mansion with gray walls, white decorative trim, a black-shingled roof, wraparound porches, and a majestic widow’s walk rising from the third floor.
Leah glanced out the window and drew in a sharp breath. “Shit, you were right,” she murmured, nudging Davina in the back seat. “Looks like a Gothic dollhouse.”
Davina pursed her lips and squirmed. Her wrists were bound behind her, and her ankles were tied together on the floor. I knew it was horribly uncomfortable for her, but we couldn’t risk her jumping out of the car and escaping.
I turned my attention to Leah, who was holding a large knife perilously close to Davina’s face. “You remember everything we came up with?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I’ve got the easy part. Will you be okay?”
I nodded, steeling my jaw. “I have to be. For her,” I murmured in response, looking toward Blackwood Manor.
I drew in a long breath and turned back to face the two women. “Stick to the script,” I said to Davina, narrowing my eyes at her. “If you try anything stupid, Leah will hang up the phone right away. Then she’ll stick that knife right in your throat. Got it?”
She nodded sullenly.
I grabbed a bag from the front passenger seat and left the car. The imperious black gate on the other side of the road looked old enough to open manually, but it was guarded by a tall, bulky man. Unless I could convince him to let me in, I was screwed.
I trudged across the road and approached the gate. The guard appraised me with a cool expression and lifted a hand. “Sorry, no tourists,” he said. “This is private property.”
“I’m not a tourist,” I said. “I’m here on a business-related matter.”
“What sort of business?”
“I’m with the Schöneberg Group.”
He gave me a disbelieving onceover. “I’ve never seen you before.”
I lifted my palms. “I’m brand new, so technically, I’m a probationary member, but you should still be able to find my name on whatever security database you use,” I said. “I was asked to come up here by a senior member. Do you need his name?”
The guard shook his head. “Just give me your driver’s license.”
I handed it over. He glanced at it before pulling out his phone and squinting at the screen. His expression changed a moment later. “Oh, here you are. Killian Knight. You’re the newest member,” he said. He looked up and offered me a tight smile. “Congratulations, sir.”
“Thanks.”
He unlocked the gate from his side and waved me through.
I strode up the driveway. A gray van was parked at the end, and a couple of guys were loitering next to it, chatting to each other. I walked right up to them and offered them a pleasant smile. “Hey, has the shoot started yet?” I asked, silently praying that it wasn’t too late.
One of the men shook his head. “Nah, not for another few hours. Things are still getting set up inside, and the talent hasn’t woken up yet.”
“Who are you?” the other guy asked. “New sound guy?”
