“In the sitting room.”
We all twisted around, and I kept the flashlight on as we dashed across the foyer. I double checked the locks on the front door to make sure they were still secure.
Entering the sitting room, Rika went straight for the couch and dug in her handbag, pulling out her cell.
Then something dropped on the floor above us, a thud vibrating through the house.
“What the hell?” Alex stood over by the window, flashing her light around.
Rika turned and met my eyes, ready to dial, but then her gaze flashed behind me. “Banks.”
I followed her gaze, twisting around. Kai stood in the doorway wearing his mask.
I let out a breath. “Kai.” I rushed over to him, wrapping my arms around him and hugging him close. “What the hell? You scared us.”
He was safe. The knots in my stomach started to unwind.
“Did you come in through the secret entrance?” I asked, feeling his arms come around me and hold me tight. “Where are Michael and Will?”
“Banks,” Rika called.
I pulled back, turning my head toward her. “What?”
She looked between her phone and me, and I heard it vibrating in her hand. “Kai’s calling me.”
What?
Her gaze flashed to the man in front of me, and her chest caved. She started shaking her head, backing up. “That’s not Kai.”
I dropped my arms from around the man’s waist, a lump swelling in my throat as I looked back up to the mask.
Black eyes met mine—a familiar coldness staring back at me.
Damon? I backed away, his eyes still on me. “Oh, my God.”
“Put the phone down,” he told Rika. “Now.”
But I knew she wouldn’t listen to him. Turning my eyes on her, I shook my head, pleading with my eyes. It would only provoke him. I could handle this if I could keep him calm.
Her fist tightened around the phone, and I could tell she was struggling with what to do. But ultimately, she stuffed the phone in her back pocket and grabbed a bottle of Johnny Walker by the neck from on top of the liquor cabinet, readying herself.
“So, how are my snakes?” Damon asked, pulling off his mask—or a replica of Kai’s—and smoothing a hand through his hair.
I looked at my brother’s face for the first time in a year. His black hair was longer around the ears and his face looked a little thinner, but his angular jaw was still tight, the muscles flexing now and again. It was his only tell that he was holding in more anger than he was letting on.
I took a slow step back, just in case.
“You’re scared of me?” He tossed the mask down on the chair.
“Where are David and Lev?” I asked.
“Tied up in the basement.”
I shook my head. “You can’t take all of us,” I warned, seeing Alex shift out of the corner of my left eye.
He just laughed under his breath. “Don’t worry. There’s one of me for each of you.”
Then he tipped his chin up, whistling a call. I stopped breathing as I watched two more men, both dressed like Damon in hoodies and jeans, round the corner into the room, also wearing copies of Kai’s mask.