“I need to check the perimeter first,” he said.

“Stay here.”

He disappeared down the wooden steps, his boots making no sound.

I stood in the center of my workshop.

The heavy cutting shears lay on the table where I had left them.

Beside them was the blue silk dress I had been working on.

I walked over and touched the fabric.

It felt smooth and cool under my fingertips.

Suddenly, the phone on my desk began to ring.

The sharp, loud sound made me jump.

I looked down at the screen.

It was an unknown number.

I hesitated, then picked up the receiver.

“Hello?” I whispered.

“Sienna,” a voice said.

It was Killian.

His voice was calm, almost pleasant.

“Killian,” I said, my heart stopping.

“Where are you?”

“I am closer than you think,” he said.

“I know Aries took you to the shop.”

“He always goes back to what he thinks he owns.”

“Listen to me very carefully,” Killian said.

“Aries has a set of physical manifests in his office safe.”

“They are the original paper copies.”

“I need you to find them.”