What?
He popped his head out the doorway and looked to the right. The double doors at the end of the hall moved slightly, as if someone had just disappeared through them. An uneasiness settled over him as he finally saw the trail of red rose petals along the corridor floor.
“What the …?” he murmured, retreating with the intention of putting on some clothes to investigate. White flashed against the oak door on his peripheral, and Lachlan jerked back from it to see a printed note pinned to his door.
His disquiet grew as he read it.
Your love is cold. Mine is colder.
Lachlan cursed under his breath and hurried across the hall to check Robyn’s door. It was locked. Good.
He glanced down the corridor at the trail of petals. It was a clear sign that he was to follow it. And wherever it led, he didn’t want Robyn near.
Rushing back into his bedroom, he threw on clothes and called down to security for backup. Within minutes, he heard the knock at the door and found Pete standing outside with Kyle, Xander, and Eccleston. “You were fast.”
Pete wrenched his gaze from the note on the door, his expression grim. “Trail of petals leads all the way downstairs. We haven’t followed it yet. We wanted to make sure you were secure first.”
“Let’s check it out.” Lachlan closed his bedroom door behind him. “How did they get past the cameras?”
“Distraction.” Pete looked pissed. “Sorry, sir. There was a disturbance at the front gate, and we were all focused on that.”
“Disturbance?”
“Someone broke the cameras. McHugh went out to check them, but we haven’t heard back from him yet. The rest of us were checking the perimeter of the castle when you called.”
“Shit.” They picked up the pace, following the petals without speaking so they didn’t wake up the members. The trail led all the way downstairs and into the staff wing.
“The kitchen?” Pete deduced.
Sure enough, as soon as they walked into the kitchen, Lachlan halted abruptly.
The bright lights overhead flooded the kitchen so there was no missing the large pool of blood around the body of security guard Greg McHugh.
Pete rushed to the body as Lachlan froze in utter shock. “Secure Mr. Adair!” he barked at his men, and he felt the security guards surround him, guns out.
“No, no.” Lachlan came out of his horrified daze as he watched Pete check McHugh for a pulse. “Is he …?”
Pete looked up in furious grief. “He’s dead.”
His gut roiled with nausea. Forcing it down, he ordered, “Check the cameras.”
“Not until you’re secure.” Pete stood, frowning as he spotted the trail of petals when Lachlan did.
They curved around toward the back of the kitchen where the commercial walk-in freezer was.
Your love is cold. Mine is colder.
“Oh my God.” Lachlan was gripped with terror as he understood. “Robyn. ROBYN!” he roared, pushing his men off him and dodging Pete as he raced past his fallen security guard toward the freezer.
The handle was up.
It was closed.
“ROBYN!” He was sure she was in there. His fingers fumbled with the handle in his panic until another hand joined his. Pete.
Together they pulled, and the door opened with a breathy suction.
He saw her hand first as the freezer swung open, and his knees threatened to buckle.
Then she was revealed.
Her red hair covered her face.
“Lucy?” Renewed shock made him hesitate just a second. It wasn’t Robyn. “Fuck, Lucy.” He hurried into the freezer with Pete and together they lifted her cold, strangely heavy body out of the walk-in.
Laying her gently on the floor, he noted her worryingly blue lips and deathly stillness. Pete rested his fingers on her neck and sagged with relief. “Call an ambulance!” he yelled at his men. “She’s still alive.”
28
Robyn
It seemed like a nightmare, finding myself at the hospital for the second time since arriving in Scotland. Lucy’s private bodyguards stood like towering human shields in front of her hospital room, and there was a buzz about the place that not even Adair incited.
Hollywood actor Lucy Wainwright was almost killed by a masked assailant.
The same man who murdered one of Lachlan’s security guards.
I didn’t know McHugh, but his death weighed heavily on my shoulders.
The bodyguards parted from Lucy’s doorway and Lachlan slipped out, his features taut. While others might look at him and see stoic, I saw distress.
I wanted to go to him.
Mac’s presence almost stopped me, but I thought, fuck it.
I met Lachlan halfway and embraced him before he could say a word.
It soon became apparent that his tense body wasn’t relaxing and his hands hovered lightly over my back, not fully embracing me in return.
Now feeling a little weird about hugging him, I stepped away. He didn’t even seem to register he’d been in my arms. Barely meeting my eyes, Lachlan focused on Mac. “Lucy will be okay. She’s recovering from mild hypothermia. They reckon she was only in there for about five minutes. Lucy can’t remember anything.”
Jesus. The commercial freezer operated at 0°F. “Mild hypothermia?”
He nodded but still didn’t look at me. “They’re keeping her overnight for observation, but the doctor said she’ll be okay to return to the castle tomorrow.”
Mac grimaced. “Lachlan, the members have been alerted, what with the police … and McHugh.” Anger burned in Mac’s gaze at the mention of his man, and I reached out to squeeze his hand. “They’ve begun preparations to leave.”
Lachlan took this news with no reaction. “I need to get back to Lucy. You get back to the castle.”
“Can I see her?” I asked. “Eredine is out in the waiting room as well.”
He shook his head. “You’ll see her when she gets back to the estate. Take Eredine with you and relocate her to the castle. On our floor. I want her under guard too. Mac, have you checked on my family?”
Mac nodded. “Of course. Arrochar has been moved temporarily to Thane’s. I have security watching the premises.”
“Thank you. I
