Page 84 of Subbing For Santa

It fails.

Frowning as more bangs sound on the front door, I notice that my phone has no signal.

Shit.

“Miss Fiera. Please come to the front door. You don’t have to answer it, but I’d rather not yell.”

What the hell is going on?

“Miss Fiera!”

“What do you want!” I yell back, staying hidden behind the kitchen bench.

“I have Mr Marx on the phone. He’d like to speak to you.”

Frowning, I lift myself up off the floor, my legs trembling, making the task harder than it needs to be. I suck in a deep breath and move towards the front entrance.

“Griffin is on the phone?” I call, my voice sounding strained.

“Yes, Miss Fiera. It’s a secure phone which can’t be blocked like yours is. I’m going to place it on the mat and step away from the door. Please check the doorbell camera to confirm it’s safe for you to retrieve the phone.”

What? My phone is being blocked?

I turn to the panel on the wall and tap the screen, lighting it up. Pressing the front door icon, the screen changes to show the other side of the front door, and a phone laying on the doormat as a black-clad man steps away from it.

What the hell is going on?

Slowly, I unlock the door and ease it open just enough to squat down and slip my hand through, quickly grabbing the phone before slamming the door shut and locking it again.

I quickly put the phone to my ear. “Griff?”

“Fuck, Aggie. Are you ok?”

A sob escapes me before I slap my hand over my mouth again, tears blurring my eyes.

“Aggie?”

“What’s going on?” I whisper-yell, dropping my hand from my mouth to bat my tears away. “There are men here with guns. What the fuck is going on?”

“I’m sorry, Aggie. I’m in the city. I’m working on getting back to you, but I needed to make sure you had protection until I got there.” Griffin sounds frantic, and instead of upsetting me, a calmness washes over me.

He doesn’t need me freaking out right now. He needs me level-headed and calm so he doesn’t have to worry and can focus on whatever it is that’s going on.

“It’s ok. Explain to me what’s going on, and what you need me to do.”

Griffin is quiet for a few beats before his deep, raspy voice comes through the line.

“Devon, my cousin, is on his way to you. Please let him in when he gets there. I need to know you are safe until I get there, little elf. I just need you safe.”

“Safe from who?” I ask calmly, even though I’m spiralling inside my head.

“One of our enemies has been hitting some of our establishments today. We thought we had it handled until he sent through a picture of you. Are you wearing a yellow sundress?”

The blood freezes in my veins as I glance down at the yellow sundress I’m wearing.

“Yes,” I whisper.

“Fuck.” He hisses. “Stay inside. Let Devon in when he gets there, and do exactly what he says until I arrive. Do you understand me, Aggie? Now is one of those times that I need you to obey.”

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