Page 68 of Little Did You Know

Arlena's shoes clicked against the hardwood as she emerged from the kitchen. "Good morning, Mr. Pearson." Steam curled from the coffee pot in her hands. "Can I get you breakfast?"

I traced the rim of my empty mug, eyes fixed on the vacant chair across from me. "No, thank you. I'm waiting for Olivia, and then I'll be leaving for work."

"Olivia left early this morning." Arlena's expression tightened.

The coffee suddenly smelled too strong, too bitter. "Where did she go?"

"I'm not sure, but I believe Hannah picked her up." She lingered by the table, her hesitation speaking volumes. Hannah had been Olivia's daily ride for months—we both knew something was off.

"I'm going to work." I stood from the table. "If she happens to show back up here, would you please give me a call?" She nodded and walked out of the dining room. Olivia was still upset with me, and I couldn't blame her. I'd acted like a dick, but I would fix it today.

My phone vibrated in my hand.

Front Gate Security

I pressed the phone to my ear, already moving toward my office. "This is Nick."

"Mr. Pearson?" Mattias's voice carried an edge I'd never heard before.

My steps faltered. "Yes."

"Three men are outside the gate asking for Olivia." Mattias's words hung in the air. My fingers found the security panel, and the gate camera feed flickered to life. They stood shoulder to shoulder, three suits cut from the same cheap cloth, dark hair flat against their skulls. Gold chains thick as rope coiled around their necks, rings flashing on meaty fingers. Street muscle trying to play businessman. Only one person would send men like this. My stomach turned to ice as the name formed in my mind: Emmett.

"What do they want?" I hissed. My heart raced at the sudden realization that Emmett's bad choices had now followed Olivia here. I needed to remain calm. Olivia wasn't here, and I had no idea where she was. I needed to find her and make sure she was safe.

"They will only say they are here for Olivia."

My fingers tightened around the phone until the case creaked. "Round up all security. Make sure they have no weapons and escort them up to the house."

I jabbed at Olivia's contact photo—her smile frozen on the screen, oblivious to the storm gathering around her. One ring. Two. Her cheerful voicemail message cut through me like a blade.

Walker's number came up automatically, muscle memory taking over where thought failed. The phone barely completed its first ring before his voice filled the line.

"This is Walker."

I paced to the window, watching shadows lengthen across the lawn. "Do you still have eyes on Emmett?" I didn't bother with pleasantries. There was no time.

"Not since he left the hospital." A pause, then the sound of keys clicking. "Why? What's up?"

"Three men at my front gate are looking for Olivia." The words tasted like metal in my mouth. "And I'm pretty sure this has something to do with him."

"I'll find him today." Walker's voice held the quiet certainty of a promise.

"Keep me updated." I ended the call and pushed through the front door, the morning air hitting my face like a slap.

My entire security team was already waiting. Ellis, head of the team, powered toward me, his shoulders squared, jaw set, and dark eyes narrowed; he was ready for war.

Ellis closed the distance between us, his voice barely a whisper of breath. "What's going on, Boss?" His crossed arms and planted feet created a wall between me and the approaching visitors.

"Three men are here looking for Olivia." My words came out clipped, controlled. "I have no idea why or what they want with her, but I also do not know where she is."

His eyes snapped to mine, reading the fear I couldn't quite hide. The muscle in his jaw jumped.

"I need everyone looking for her."

"I will send a team out now." Ellis's hand drifted to his earpiece, already calculating angles and assignments. "Once the men leave and you are safe and the property secure, I will send the rest of my men out."

The protective instinct in his voice grated against my nerves. "Send them now."

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