Sweet Pain (Amatucci Family #3) - Sadie Jacks Page 0,101
finished pulling the books from the shelf. Found the single book that was actually the lever to the escape stairs.
My phone rang. I smiled. “Hey, Nik. Long time no talk,” I said as I lifted the phone to my ear. I didn’t even need to check it.
“Yeah, bossman. So long. Turo just called, said something crazy like you’d been ambushed?”
“Yup. Such a nice wakeup gift from the youngest Cavendish. We’re in the safe room, getting ready to head up to the roof. I’ve already hit the alarm, so the police and the security company should be on their way. I need you to check the status of PC. Once that’s done, make sure that the fire department didn’t miss anything and that there really isn’t a fire in the building.”
“Already done. You’re clear on both fronts. Apparently when the fire alarm went off, it released all stairwell access points. That’s what the needed to get up to you.”
My brow furrowed. “But they were already up here. No less than five minutes when the alarms started blaring.”
“Don’t know what to tell you on that one, bossman. Have you looked in your security cameras yet?”
I would have slapped myself in the face if I’d had a hand free. I waved Willow over, handed her the phone. “Nik’s here.”
My lips quirked at Nik using Tali’s nickname for Willow. They really were a girl squad. My computer screen flipped on. I flipped through the channels. “Shit. Nik, conference in Turo again, please.”
“Give me two.”
“Cricket, I am quite busy,” the man said.
“So are we. It’s not Cavendish. Or if he’s here, I don’t see him. Does the father’s group have any identifying marks of family?”
Turo cursed in Italian. I caught a few words, but allowed them to blow by me. I was more interested in the men storming through my house. Our house.
“He’s a fan of the giglio bottonato—think a fleur de lis for Italians. If they have one, it’s going to be on the arms or wrist. Done in blood red.”
I zoomed in on the guys rifling through our bedroom. One of them was sniffing Willow’s lace panties. I was going to kill him first.
“There. On the inside of his other wrist.” Willow stabbed the screen. “It’s black, not red.”
“He’s either very new or very old,” Turo explained.
I zoomed out. “Considering he looks like he should still be in high school, I’m going to go with very new.”
“Then his tattoo is probably scabbed. What is the police ETA?”
I looked at the little read out over the panic button. “They should be here by now.”
“Nik, can you verify?” Turo asked.
“Checking, hold.” Her clicking filtered over the line. “Yes, they’re in the building. They’re having to climb the stairs with the elevators still out of commission. The fire department closed them down so they could check the floors.”
“Good,” Willow said. “What floor are they on?”
“Tenth.”
Willow sighed. “So we just have to wait for the police to show up?”
I snorted. “That’s assuming the de Silva group doesn’t bust in here.”
“Isn’t this a panic room?” she twirled in a small circle.
“Yes, but it doesn’t mean it's permanently impenetrable. They will eventually get in here. We need to not be here when that happens.” I pulled her against me. Kissed her head. “What’s the plan?”
“Get to the roof. Hopefully the police will get there. Nik, alert the station that Ryker and Willow are on the roof. We’re trying to get access to it.”
“I could let you in,” Nik offered.
Turo chuckled. “Cricket, we have much to discuss. Yes, open the access doors for Ryker and Willow. They will head down while we head up. We are in the basement.” Turo clicked off again.
I could hear Nik muttering to herself about bossy men.
“How did you get access to the private fire access door codes?”
She snorted. “See if I help you again. At least the Amatuccis expect me to perform well.” She muttered again. “Get your asses to the roof. I’ll keep track of you and open the other door when you get there.”
I opened my mouth.
Willow put her palm over it. “Thanks, Nik. We owe you.”
“You’re welcome, Willow.” Nik disconnected.
“What? What did I do?” I pulled the lever that opened the panel to the stairs.
Willow just shook her head as she darted by me. “They’re going to know exactly how to get in here if they do break in.” The automatic lights flickered on.