My breath hitched in my throat.

The stone fountain outside was dark, illuminated only by the faint security lights of the courtyard.

I stared through the glass of the window, trying to pierce the deep shadows.

“He’s out there,” I whispered.

Adrian did not look at the window.

His gaze remained fixed on the glowing screen of my phone.

His fingers tightened on my shoulder, his thumb pressing into my collarbone.

“He wants you to look,” Adrian said.

His voice was low, devoid of the panic that was currently clawing at my chest.

The radio in his hand beeped twice.

“Sir,” a voice crackled through the speaker. “The western perimeter sensors just went offline.”

“I know,” Adrian said into the transmitter.

“Should we deploy the extraction team to the main house?” the guard asked.

“No,” Adrian replied. “Maintain your current positions. Hold the perimeter.”

I turned my head to look at him, my heart hammering against my ribs.

“Adrian, he’s inside,” I said, my voice shaking. “He bypassed your security. He’s in the courtyard.”

“He thinks he is,” Adrian said.

He took the phone from my hand.