I yanked off my apron and followed her through the entry. The minute I stepped outside, the air hit me like a slap. Cool, damp, but already burned with the stink of diesel and wet dirt.
That's when I saw it.
The lot that lined Main Street was chaos. Where Maeve's flower beds had lived with tulips, cosmos, and some kind of magical seasoning that kept normal bugs away, there was now a mud pit. Grass torn up, the soil churned deep, and a matte-black landscaping truck with the SkyArc stamp across the door.
Two men in matching polos were hauling out saplings and bags of chemically juiced fertilizer. A giant auger punched fresh holes into the ground, chewing through the last of the roots with brutal efficiency. Another guy in an orange vest was dragging up the old boundary posts and tossing them onto the pile like garbage.
The nerve. My vision went sharp as glass.
Standing in the middle of all this was the foreman. The only one not rushing. He leaned against a steel fence post, clipboard tucked under one arm, and watched the carnage like it was a fireworks show.
William Hanlon. I recognized him instantly. He clocked me the second I stepped out but didn't flinch. He just nodded, spun the clipboard, and bit down hard on a stick of gum.
Even from twenty feet away, the mint hit me like a chemical warhead.
Caden's hackles shot up so fast I thought I'd burst straight out of my shoes.
I stormed across the gravel, ignoring the way the ground squished under every step. Maeve trailed, muttering death threats under her breath.
"Hey!" I barked, loud enough that every worker's head snapped up at once. "Who told you to touch these beds? This is private property."
William didn't even blink. He eased away from the post, casual as can be, and gave the mud pit a lazy scan. "Relax. We've got a work order." He flipped a page on the clipboard, and didn't bother reading it. "SkyArc just picked up the old Hudson place next door. They scheduled landscaping and drainage fixes. Looks like your beds were over the line."
I pointed, jabbing the air with a finger so hard my knuckle cracked. "There's a marker, right there. See it? That's the lot line. These beds are on bakery property. You're way over."
He shrugged, not even bothering to hide the smirk. "It's just dirt, buddy. We'll fix it later if it matters so much. Chill out."
My blood went volcanic.
Caden howled inside, all claws and fangs, a single word pulsing louder than my own heartbeat.Ours.
Maeve was vibrating. She hissed, "You'll fix it now, you—" but I cut her off with a raised hand.
I stepped closer to William, my boots grinding over the shatteredstones. The heat in my chest threatened to catch the air on fire. With every breath, the stink of mint-laced gum, cologne, whatever the hell the guy had bathed in, made my eyes water.
He didn't back off, but something flickered behind his smile. Maybe he'd finally noticed I wasn't just another bakery guy.
I dropped my voice. Low, flat, murderously cold. "You've got one shot to put it right. Replaceeverymissing leaf, then get your crew off my land. Then you can redraw your lines somewhere else."
William spread his hands, a mock gesture of innocence. "Don't get bent outta shape. It's the first day on the job for this team. Our survey crew probably marked the wrong spot. We'll dial it back."
I didn't move. If anything, the silence got heavier. "You heard me."
He cracked his gum, spinning the wad with his tongue, and the cloying edge of mint got even stronger.
My temperature spiked. I could feel it, my skin prickling, sweat beading down my back even in the chill. Caden pushed forward, teeth bared, ready to roar.
The gravel under my boots actually popped, a sound like someone twisting bubble wrap. For a heartbeat, time hung in the air, molasses slow. William'ssmile faltered, just a bit, but then he pasted it back, glancing at his crew for backup.
None of them moved.
The nearest guy, the one with the shovel, had eyes like dinner plates. He gripped the handle tight, staring at me like he'd just realized the rules of the universe could change.
William tried to lean into his swagger again, but now his jaw was set, lips tight around the gum. He shifted, just enough to give ground.
I stepped up, close enough that he had to tip his chin up to look me in the eye.
I said it, slow and clear, every syllable heavy as stone, "If I see another inch of bakery land torn up by SkyArc, I'll pull your trucks out myself. Are you catching me?"
