“Paolo!” Levi yelled. He reined his horse to a rapid stop, dismounted, and drew his weapon.

Cassie swung down from the saddle as Paolo emerged from the stables.

Paolo’s gaze landed on Levi’s gun. “What’s wrong?”

“Security breach. Take Cassie into the loft and cover me,” Levi ordered. “Cassie, go inside.”

Cassie hurried through the open double doors, escaping to the relative safety of the large wooden structure.

Paolo grabbed the reins of both horses. “I’ll tie them up inside.”

“Thanks.” Levi scanned the area for movement and called Franco again. “Status?”

“We had a spike in the electrical current for the fence but no interruptions.”

Levi stepped into the stables and closed both doors. “Call in our off-duty guards. I want sentries posted along the interior wall.”

“Rachelle already activated them. She’s on her way with Henri to check out the area.”

Oddly unsettled to know he wasn’t in charge, Levi said, “Keep me posted.”

“I will.” He glanced at the ladder to the loft, and Cassie was still on the third rung. Paolo stood beside her, a rifle in hand. “Sorry, Cassie. I wasn’t thinking. Come back down.”

Tentatively, she lowered her feet until she reached the ground.

“Paolo, go up there and tell me if you see any movement. I’ll have Cassie stay in the tack room.”

Paolo nodded his assent and began his climb.

“What about you?” Cassie asked.

“I’m staying here with you, but I want to be able to see the entrances.” Levi opened the door to the tack room, the only windowless section of the stables.

Cassie passed inside, and Levi gripped his gun. Something had set off that alarm, and all he could do was wait to make sure that whatever it was didn’t get to Cassie.

CHAPTER 25

Cassie leaned against the wall beside the door, her heart racing. She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Levi was only a few feet away. He was staying with her.

The planked wooden walls blocked the sunlight, but from the swath of light coming through the crack in the door, Cassie could see the rows of sawhorses holding saddles. Bridles and lead ropes hung on the walls, and a set of shelves in the corner held saddle pads.

She breathed in the scent of leather and horses and willed her heartbeat to slow.

Several minutes passed before she thought to listen for movement outside.

A horse in one of the nearby stalls nickered, and she could hear another outside in the pasture.

“Paolo, anything?” Levi called out.

“Nothing. I don’t see anyone but our guards.”

“That’s a good sign,” Levi said. “Cassie, are you doing okay in there?”

“I’m okay.” She heard his phone ring, followed by his simple greeting.

“Marin.” A brief pause. “Post guards on the terrace and by the path to the stables. I want extra security while I bring Cassie back to the chateau.” Another pause. “Keep the sentries in place until I talk to Rachelle.”