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“Baby, get the lights,” I told her

I pressedhis neck to check for a pulse, but I couldn’t find one Light finally illuminated the hallway as footfalls hit the stairs, everyone running up after us

“What the hell?” Kai said, stopping next to the body “Who is that?”

Hoould I know?

“Is he dead?” I heard Michael ask

No idea I stared down at hi out of his head I didn’t recognize him, and he wasn’t dressed for the party

“Who is that?” Rika asked

I shook my head

Someone raced past us as I searched his pockets for identification, but when I reached under his jacket, I felt it

I hesitated, the pulse in

Shit

I flipped hi under his arm, and pulled out the pistol fro to hit all of us at the exact same time The only people who had weapons were Lev and David, and this wasn’t either of them

“The kids are gone!” a woman shouted

What? I shot to my feet as everyone spun around to lock eyes with Mrs Cuthbert

“What kids?” I barked “They’re at the theater” And then I jerked lestat” She had the kids at the theater “Have her do a head count”

She nodded, her hands shaking as she dialed

“Mads and Octavia,” Da mine “They stayed behind”

Mads and Octavia… I darted my eyes to the nanny

“They’re not in their rooms,” she cried

Andabout

Everyone ran

“Tavi!” Banks raced down the hall to the rooms the kids used when they were here

“Madden!” Kai bolted down the other hallhere it forked to search the gallery where his son liked to hide

“Madden!” more voices called as everyone fanned out

Myfor the dude’s pulse and not finding it Putting ers under his nose, I waited to feel the warmth of his breath

There was nothing

More footfalls ascended the stairs, and I rose up again, piecing together the possibilities in my head

“He’s dead,” I said

“It wasn’t us,” I head Lev say, and I looked up to see hi at the top of the stairs, out of breath “We didn’t see anything”

“That’s obvious!” Banks growled

“The door’s been opening every ten seconds with guests, Banks!” Lev yelled “Anyone could’ve gotten in I told you we needed more security”

“But you all didn’t want ‘aruards and aMichael

Michael grabbed his collar, shoving him away “Search the house Go!”