Chapter 42: The Knock
The knock came again. Three slow raps, like someone had all the time in the world. The sound bounced off the marble foyer and made every hair on my arms stand up.
Nobody moved at first. Rico froze mid-step with the popcorn bowl still in his hands. Lydia slammed her laptop shut so fast the screen cracked a little. Marcus already had his g*n out, low and steady, pointed at the door. Bella’s fingers dug into my forearm hard enough to bruise.
I pushed her gently behind me. “Stay back.”
She didn’t. She stepped right up beside me instead. “No hiding. Not tonight.”
Marcus shot me a look. “You want to open it?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. Lydia, cameras.”
She was already tapping keys. “Feed’s live. Hallway’s empty. No one at the door. No heat signature. No package. Noth
