Page 8 of Dragon's Code

“Ms. Miller, how are you today?”

I put on a fake smile. “Hi, Rachel. I’m good. How are you?”

“I’m good. Thank you for asking.”

“Rachel, I’m not expecting any company, so if anyone comes by to see me, please tell them I’m not in.”

“You’ve got it, Ms. Miller.”

I get into the elevator and head up to my condo. The thirteenth floor comes quickly. I head directly to my place and unlock the two deadbolts. Once I’m inside, I type in my security code to disarm the alarm, and then type it again to secure it for while I’m home. I re-lock the two deadbolts, put the chain across, and flip over the extra protection of a blocker that keeps anyone from opening up even if the door was unlocked.

I unload my stuff onto my desk, and then grab theLouisville Sluggerwooden baseball bat I keep by the door of my office and head through my house to check that it’s empty. I don’t leave a pillow unturned. After about twenty minutes of reassuring myself that I am safe, I make myself a vanilla latte, which is not nearly as good as the ones I had earlier today, and sit back down in my office chair, ready to work.

It’s another four hours before my stomach is growling. I get up and stretch. I check my phone. No new messages, which means whatever Kash’s brother called him into the office for is a big deal.

Kashton has never given me an abundance of information about his family and what they do. The research I’ve done on them all on the internet brings back very little, even though I’m better at most when it comes to overturning the hidden rocks on the web to dig up dirt. He’s not on social media. He’s got all the paperwork to prove he is who he says he is, but the entire family lives off the grid for the most part or they pay someone very well to stay as invisible as possible.

I hear the familiar creak of the floorboard in my hallway right outside my bathroom. It only makes that noise when someone steps on it.

Someone is in my house.

I don’t know how. It doesn’t matter at this point.

I quietly put my computer, my phone, and anything within arm’s reach that I’m going to need into my computer bag, which already has my ID, passport, and wallet inside it. I sling it over my shoulder so I don’t have to hold onto it. Then I grab the baseball bat. I press myself against the wall right next to the door to the office.

Another small creak. I take slow, deep breaths trying to keep my terror under control. There’s nothing helpful about having an anxiety attack. I have to keep myself together to handle whatever is about to happen.

Time stretches out in front of me. I don’t hear anything, but I know I’m not just being paranoid. My apartment doesn’t creak for no reason. I know the difference between neighbor noises and noises from inside my place.

With shaking hands, I pull out my phone and pull up my security system app. I quickly put in the code for duress. It doesn’t take long for my phone to ring.

I answer it. “Hello?”

“This is Mike from Sentinel Guard Solutions. You put in a duress call. Are you in need of assistance?”

“Yes, there’s someone in my apartment,” I say in a quiet voice, even though I know whoever is inside will likely hear me.

A man appears in the doorway. I gasp, drop my phone, and swing the bat as hard as I can at the guy’s head. He catches the bat in his hand before it hits him, and he holds it there like I have no strength at all. Which is utter bullshit, because I work out five times a week and have studied all kinds of self defense for just this particular situation.

Mike’s voice filters up from the floor where my phone has been discarded, but all I can focus on is the fact that somehow, despite everything I have to keep me safe, Raphael has broken into my home.

“Calm down, Athena,” Raphael says in a cold, detached voice.

“You’re not welcome in my home. I don’t know how you got in here, but get the fuck out. Right now.”

Raphael gives me a bemused look. I’ve seen this look on his face. It’s the same one he used to give me when we were dating, that I’m-oh-so-cute smile.

“Athena, calm down.”

“Get out.” I jerk the baseball bat, but it doesn’t budge from his grip.

I release the handle and step back. “What are you doing here?”

“I need you to come with me.”

A burst of nervous laughter escapes me. “No. I’m not going anywhere with you ever again.”

Raphael gives me a pitying smirk. “I’m asking you one more time.”

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