Page 15 of Mistress Mayhem

Trying to follow someone without their knowledge in a house this size when we don’t know the layout would be difficult. Lucky for us, we’ve studied the old blueprints before coming tonight. After all, we have a job to complete. We know that Sage has had renovations done, but we couldn’t figure out who the contractor was that headed the project—meaning we don’t know what changes have been made.

We didn’t figure it would be a big deal, and likely, we’ll still be able to navigate the halls well enough.

Sage leads him deeper and deeper into the first floor, and I frown, trying to figure out where she’s headed.

“Library,” Austin murmurs as he sneaks a peek around the corner. Sure enough, she’s come to a stop outside of the library—at least what had been marked as the library on the blueprints. If Sage is anything like Avery, it would still be a library.

She always loved to read—straight from the time she learned to read. The two of us would often hang out together, reading our own books in the backyard or sometimes we’d take turns reading a book to one another. But that was back before.

That’s how I divide my life now. Before Avery disappeared and after. I wonder if this will become a new division point now that she’s here. I’m not sure that I’ll be able to let her go again.

Once the door shuts behind Sage and William, we wait a few moments to be sure no one else will be joining them before starting down the hallway. I reach for the doorknob and shake my head when I realize it’s locked. “Austin, you’re up.”

Austin reaches into the inside pocket of his tux jacket and pulls out his lock picking kit. He kneels before the door and gets to work. All three of us freeze when we heard a thud from inside the room.

“Get that door unlocked, Austin,” Cooper barks, eyes wide with worry.

We know exactly what kind of asshole Sage is locked inside that room with, but I’m not sure she does. We need to get into that room as quickly as possible.

The lock clicks and Austin nods as he pushes open the door, all three of us pushing to rush inside together.

Imagine our surprise when we find Sage dragging an unconscious William toward a bookcase that’s swung away from the wall.

A secret door? How fucking cool is that?

“Well, this will certainly make it easier to kill him,” Cooper drawls.

Sage drops her hold on William’s wrists, hands going to her hips. “Like hell you’re killing him. He’s mine.” She hesitates for a moment, head tilting to the side. “Wait. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Why would you want to kill him?”

I guess Cooper didn’t tell her why we’re here. And it looks like we might be after the same targets—or at least one.

This should be interesting.

Chapter Nine

Sage

Shakingmyhead,Istalk over to the three silent idiots who haven’t bothered answering my question or shutting the door.

I breeze past them, pushing the door shut and locking it once more. “I know that door was locked, so how the hell did you get inside?”

“I picked the lock,” Austin offers with a shrug, flushing as I narrow my eyes on him.

I close my eyes, lifting a hand to squeeze my nose. Really, I’m just trying to rein in my temper. “And why would you pick the locks, Austin? After I specifically told Cooper to stay the hell out of my way.”

“You walked out of the ballroom with one of our marks so we followed you.” Fox shrugs as if it’s no big deal, but it’s a huge freaking deal. Now they know I’ve drugged William and that there’s a secret passageway in here. They could ruin everything.

“Why couldn’t you have just listened to me? I need you to go back to the party and forget you ever saw this. And stay the hell out of my way this time, yeah?”

Cooper chuckles. “That’s never going to happen, princess.”

“Don’t,” I hiss, both hating and loving hearing his old pet name for me.

“Why is he so important to you, Av—“ Austin cuts himself off as I skewer him with a glare. “Sage. Why is he so important to you?”

Spinning on my heel, I stalk across the room before turning and stalking back toward them. Some might call it pacing, though I believe it’s a bit more violent than that. I don’t want to do this right now. Hell, I don’t want to ever do this. I don’t want them to be here. I don’t want to confront my past when it’s so close to being buried.

“Sage?” Austin whispers, his voice so quiet I almost don’t hear it.

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