Security breach. Kael's words echoed in my brain as I stood, motionless in the foyer, my father's portrait looming over me. I was alone for only a moment before he returned, grasping my uninjured wrist. 

"I'd rather you come with me." 

Without waiting for my response, he led me back down the hallway toward another dark corridor I hadn't particularly noticed before. Following blindly, I was surprised to find us walking through a hidden passage behind a panel in the hallway. Security breach. His words continued to replay in my mind as my heartbeat pounded in my ears. This incident would answer Garrett's question regarding the absence of visible security. After all, there had to be some manner of security if there was to be a breach.

Once inside the wall, total darkness engulfed us. I had never been anywhere so black. I felt we were in a wall, stuck between beam and drywall. To my relief, Kael opened another latch to continue our descent into the passage.

"Stairs," he warned just in time. I nearly fell when I took the first one, and I steadied myself with his arm.

The sleeve of my dress caught on something on the wall, followed by a tearing noise. He didn't pause. I had no choice but to continue.

The passage probably dated back to the origins of this house, the builder's descendants apparently never bothering to wire it for electricity. My hand fell against more than one candle holder against the walls, the old wax inside crumbling under my touch. Fortunately, the stairs were ergonomically correct, unlike some in older British homes. After my initial stumble, I was able to navigate the stairway rather well. The steps curved to the right. Light escaped from under a door at the bottom, spilling onto the passage floor. We reached the door. Kael pressed his thumb into a small pad to the left of the door. The door slid open.

Taking a moment for my eyes to adjust, I shielded them with my free hand. Once I could see, I noted that the room had dim fluorescent lighting. Monitors lined one wall, giving detailed views of nearly every portion of the estate, inside and out. In the center of the room sat the massive rectangular table with matching leather chairs expected in a boardroom. The other half of the room sported double doors and a small table with a single orchid.

A door opposite us opened when we had hardly entered the room.

Two men came through, complete with bullet proof vests and armed with large guns. I shrunk back a few feet toward the passage.

"Who is it?" Kael asked, stopping to study the monitors. I kept quiet, hoping the other men didn't notice me.

But both guards looked briefly at me before turning toward the monitors and gesturing. "We first noticed it here, sir." The guard indicated a portion of the estate that didn't look familiar from the grainy imagery on the largest screen. It appeared to be mostly trees with the bay in the distance.

"Is it her?" Kael asked the second man.

"I believe so." He seemed uneasy, chancing a glance my way. "We've sent out two men to check the situation. If she's out there, we'll find her."

Kael nodded. "Where's Higgins?" He pushed past the two men without waiting for them to respond. Not wanting to be left alone with the two thugs, I came up behind him. We left the boardroom and entered the room they had come from. I was surprised to find myself in a large office with rows of tables with laptops across the room. One large screen projected one of the views of the house. There were half a dozen people at their desks, the majority of desks vacant. Still, I was rather impressed. My father's work must be far more expansive than I had realized. Kael led me to the back of the room where a man stood, eyes fixed on his computer.

This man was older, probably in his late sixties. He glanced up when we approached. His gaze lingered on me, but he said nothing.

"Higgins," Kael nodded at the man.

"Welcome back." He gave me another quick look before going on, "It's Madeline. I'm sure of it." Higgins shook his head, keeping his eyes to the screen. "Wait." He touched his ear, nodding. "They got her. She surrendered." He raised a brow as he straightened. "She wanted to be found. She knows what the security's like around here."

Kael nodded, agreeing, "Yes, she does."

"Shouldn't your guest be upstairs?" Higgins nodded his balding head toward me, obviously hoping for some introduction.

"She's with me," Kael said simply as he led us back out the way we'd come. Higgins followed.

Back in the boardroom, I caught myself shaking, fearful of what I had discovered. I had never imagined that the family business was so massive, so far advanced. What exactly were Garrett and I supposed to accomplish in the midst of such a formidable operation?

I surveyed the room searching for answers, but the cold modernized room yielded none. The other room was obviously some sort of security post. Where were shipments held? Having seen my father's handiwork, I realized there was far more to both him and the home than Garrett or I could have imagined.

"Should we send someone to check on Garrett?" I whispered.

"It's you she wants, not him." Kael said under his breath, seemingly preoccupied.

"Oh?" Higgins heard our exchange, his expression curious. He said nothing more, however.

I didn't ask, but I wondered if she had come alone. She could be a distraction. While everyone became uprooted with her arrival, there could be a team of men storming the house now. I realized that was why Kael had insisted I come with him. For protection.

We didn't wait long before the double doors opposite us opened. Two security guards in full gear walked in escorting Madeline. She was hardly recognizable as the beautiful, ruthless abductor that had taken us from the train only two days before. Her hair was tangled and matted, her face covered in bruises in various stages of healing. Her right arm was held up by a sling, slightly loose on her shoulder. I cringed, knowing I had seen at least half of the bruises created. I wondered what had happened to her arm.

The guards were less than delicate, shoving her into the middle of the room. She actually smiled when she saw me. I forced myself to look at her, unyieldingly. For once, I had the upper hand. I wasn't about to cower and give her any satisfaction.

"Well." She smiled, then grimaced from the pain that must have emanated from the bruised areas on her face. "Here we are." She had a French accent now. I glanced at Kael to see if he noticed the transformation. He seemed unaffected.

"What do you want, Madeline?" Kael was surprisingly cool, leaning against the table, arms crossed.

She laughed, "Nothing. I missed you." The guard behind her twisted her arm back, and she let out a cry of pain. My hand shot up to my mouth as a reflex. As much as I didn't like her, I wasn't used to this measure of cruelty.

Madeline recovered quickly. "She is here with you. That is good." She was looking at me again. I felt tingles climbing my spine with her apparent obsession with me. I was starting to wonder if there was something other than leverage with Gideon driving her actions.

"I have a deal for you. If you please," She indicated the guards on either side of her, wrenching her arms behind her. "Kael, I can hardly talk with these two buffoons manhandling me." Her pouting accent would have deterred me from action. Surprisingly, Kael gave a curt nod and they loosened their grip.

She straightened her hopelessly soiled jacket. "We would like to propose a deal," she started again. "I may have information as to where our shipment was taken." She gave a small grin. "A trade. You give us Miss Harper, and I will tell you where it is. Simple."

She tossed her head with confidence, a lock of black hair flying away from her face revealed a bloodshot eye.

"Don't try to counter offer. My employers aren't interested. The girl for the lost shipment's location. Your choice."

I felt all eyes on me. I sensed that the guards and Higgins definitely thought the answer was obvious. I shifted my feet, not liking the extended silence. Kael leaned on the table, considering. I wanted to immediately object, but some twisted sense of curiosity forced me to wait, hear his response.

*****

Madeline drives a hard bargain. Kael can restore the manor's reputation by securing the shipment or protect Harper. Which will he choose?

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