Page 79 of Heart of Stone (Dark Billionaires)

She was keeping it.

There was no chance that she’d get rid of it. Kate hadn’t forgotten that Warren had placed half a million into her bank account, not to mention she now owned her house outright. Financially, she was set. She had choices now, rather than simply having choices thrust upon her.

Kate grinned like a lunatic when she thought of telling Warren of her pregnancy. Even the thought had her happy tears returning.He’s going to be as excited as I am, she knew.

With that conclusion reached, Kate settled into sleep, dreaming of nurseries, the smell of babies, and happy families.

She woke drenched in sweat.

The dull, indistinct light pervading through the room told her that morning approached. Fanning herself, Kate stumbled across to the window, half tempted to press herself against the cool surface. Instead, she threw the window open, poking her head out as far as she could, relishing the feel of the crisp morning air against her skin.

Letting her weight rest on the windowsill, Kate grew drowsy, drifting in and out of consciousness where she stood.

The sound of a pained grunt had her eyes flying open.

She searched the dim gardens, past the koi pond and down the steps beyond. Was that movement in the woodland or her eyes playing tricks on her? Flashes of white drew her attention—toowhite. Nothing natural could be that white. Not for long anyway.

A huddle emerged from the woodland. Four or five men, perhaps.

Fuck.

A start of icy cold fear propelled her into action like a horse spurred into movement by the flick of a whip. She bolted to the door, taking a right down the corridor, following the path to Brax’s office.

Adrenaline made her movements jerky and panic made her shake. Memories of the attacker’s hands round her throat brought terrified little squeaks from her lungs, and Kate was glad that the house was deserted at this hour.

Even as she ran, she remembered that Brax was called away this evening. Panic threatened to overwhelm her then. How many of the guards were away? What would those men do when they broke in?

She burst through the door to Brax’s office.

The only guard there was the one with resting bitch face.

She had never been so glad to see anyone in her entire life.

“Jesus, you scared the life out of me, woman,” he scolded her, but she spoke over him.

“There are men,” she panted, bursting through the door, “men in the woods at the back of the house. They’re coming.”

He looked at her like she was daft. “You mean those men?” he asked her, casually pointing towards one of the screens.

With the camera’s night vision, Kate could see them more clearly. Her eyes drifted from man to man and, with a gulping sigh of relief, she recognised Brax and three of the security guards, Talbot among them. The former was moving stiffly, cradling one of his massive arms with a wince. “Oh thank god,” she blurted in a single breath, resting her arms over one of the empty chairs in the room.

Her attention was then drawn to the fifth man—the one being dragged up the path with a bag over his head. “Who is that?”

Resting bitch face gave her a long look, his brows pulled down. “William Graves.”

“You found him?” Kate rasped excitedly. “What about the girls that were with him? Do you know if they found Saffron’s sister? Evie, her name is, she—”

He held up a hand. “You should get back to bed. I haven’t received word about anything other than Graves. We’ll know more soon.”

Kate nodded, a hopeful smile splitting across her face. It was over. Her walk back to the bedroom was far removed from her earlier panicked dash; a thousand thoughts rushed through her mind, resulting in a leisurely stroll through the corridors.

God, she hoped they’d found Evie. And she hoped that this would bring Warren’s crusade to an end.

The timing couldn’t be better either. In her panic, she’d almost entirely forgotten about her pregnancy. Placing a hand against her lower stomach, she grinned. Warren would be safe. The baby would be safe.

That was all that mattered.

Her smile fizzled out when she passed the lift.

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