He glanced at the small screen of his military-grade security monitor. The camera feed showed a figure moving across the front yard, barely visible in the dim light.
A soft beep came from his phone, it was an alert from his alarm system. Someone had tripped the perimeter sensor.
Maisie appeared at the top of the stairs. “Aidan? What’s going on?”
“Shh,” Aidan whispered, raising a hand to calm her. “Go to Hazel’s room. Lock the door. Don’t come out until I say it’s safe.”
Fear flashed in Maisie’s eyes, but she didn’t argue. She nodded, her voice trembling as she said,
“Be careful.” Then she turned and headed toward Hazel’s room, her steps quick but quiet.
Aidan’s grip tightened around the gun in his hand as he approached the staircase leading to the ground floor.
His military instinct
