“What in the magic shit did you just do?”
“My dad had stuff like this. And I think we just found what they were after.”
Reed and I locked eyes, the weight of that realization settling between us. It would be impossible to view the break-in as random now, which meant Trevor was right.
“It could be GPS coordinates or an alphanumeric cipher. A decryption key. I’ll examine it under a microscope back at the lodge.”
“Here.” I handed him the band. “Take the whole box just in case.” My gaze flicked to the envelope. “But having this stuff at the lodge does paint a target on it. Call Ryder. Tell him to have Trevor clear out the guests. Send them packing until we know more. We need to turn the place into a fortress to protect Audrey and Chase, and whatever the hell we just found.”
“Guests’ll be pissed, but better that than dead.” He slid the ring box into his pocket and put the envelope back in its place.
“I’ll be right out,” I said, needing a second.
“I’ll make the call. Meet you outside.” He grabbed the box and headed for the door. “Don’t be long. Pretty sure these assholes still have eyes on the place and the lodge. They tried to be discreet last time, but I doubt they’ll bother next time.”
“Why haven’t they hit the house again while it’s been empty?” I asked, that bad feeling clawing its way up my spine. “They had all day yesterday. They were pros—these guys don’t strike me as the type who’d be deterred by a cruiser out front.”
Reed’s jaw tensed. “Because they’re regrouping. Possibly bringing in more people now that Audrey’s at Trevor’s. And, uh ...”
I nodded. “They want Audrey. Friday’s break-in wasn’t just a search; they were here to take her, too, which is why they’d need to bring in more people to hit Trevor’s place.”
“And I’m sure they know we’re here now, too.”
“Not just that. They knew if they hit her house again, it’d put us on alert at the lodge and we’d go into full lockdown mode before taking her somewhere else. They need us to think it was random so we keep our guard lowered. And then they’ll hit the lodge and her place here again at once.”
“I’m calling Ryder,” he said on his way out the door.
I stayed behind, glancing around her room, acting as if I had all the time in the world for some reason.
My gaze landed on the dresser, and then came the stupidest idea of the day.
I told myself it was for her. To give her a sense of normality and familiarity in the chaos of all this. That was the only reason I went and found a duffel bag and opened her top drawer.
God help me, I packed this woman’s lingerie.
Silk. Satin. And lace.
So much lace, too. Black. Red. Pink. Purple. She didn’t discriminate. Lace in every damn color. How the hell would I stop myself from wondering what shade of lace she was wearing on any given day we spent together?
Shit, what was wrong with me to be thinking about that right now? Trevor’s name flashed through my mind like an electric jolt, serving as another reminder to get my head on right.
Trevor is Chase’s dad. He and Audrey will end up back together, the perfect family unit. I don’t belong in that picture. I’m not screwing anything up for them.
I had to stay away. For Chase. For Audrey. And yeah, selfishly, for my own heart.
Because the only way to protect everyone was by not falling in love.
Chapter Eleven
Alejandro
The mostly quiet ride didn’t do a damn thing to slow my racing thoughts, though I appreciated that Reed hadn’t questioned the hot-pink duffel bag.
By the time we made it back, Beau and two of his deputies were guiding guests from the lodge to the parking lot. Ryder moved fast.Looks like Trevor does, too.I hated that I was no longer completely hating that man.
Clearing my throat, I shoved down the uncomfortable lump rising in my chest and got out of the truck with Reed. We weaved through the crowd of disgruntled guests.
“I’ll go find Ryder and Trevor,” Reed said before heading off.
