She looked around the room and for the second time in less than twenty-four hours, she asked for help. “I’m not leaving my home.I’m not leaving The Haven. I’m going to fight for this place, for my future here, and for the future of Gossamer Falls. But I can’t do it alone.”
Was it Mo’s imagination or did Bronwyn look at him a second longer than anyone else as she scanned the room?
Her gaze landed on him again.
Was she going to say something? Her mouth opened.
“We need to focus on keeping you safe. That has to be our top priority.” Gray’s pronouncement cut off any words she might have been about to say.
So close.
“And the second priority needs to be finding out who is behind this and why.” Mo patted his chest. “I’ll start my dive through the computer system as soon as we figure out how to do it without anyone watching.”
“That’s simple enough.” Donovan smirked. “Cassie can come by tomorrow and accidentally-on-purpose knock that picture off the wall. Problem solved.”
“How’s she going to do that?” Cal asked.
“The same way she knocked a picture off the wall in my office last week. She leaned against it andvoila.” He made a flashing gesture with his hand. “Broken glass. Shattered frame. No more camera.”
“Is the photo one of a kind?” Landry asked.
Bronwyn shrugged. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. I’m not going to be able to be in that room for even a second if I’m being watched. What if someone saw me last night? Could they have seen the email I sent to you?”
The question was directed at Cal, but Gray answered. “No.It’s pointed straight at your desk. No line of sight to the screen. My guess is they wanted to combine the visual with the audio. Maybe they plan to record a meeting in your office in the future. They could be trying to set you up. Get you to say something incriminating so they can oust you.”
“If they showed up to a board meeting with illegally recorded video from my office, I can assure you that would not go over well.”
“Blackmail.” Mo’s statement dropped like a bomb in the room. He waited until things calmed down before he continued. “We all know Bronwyn isn’t doing anything illegal, immoral, or against the best interests of The Haven or the community. But I’m not sure her family realizes she isn’t like them. They may think they can catch her in the act of doing something, then blackmail her into supporting what they want done at The Haven.”
Somber nods in the room showed everyone’s agreement, except Bronwyn. She looked gobsmacked.
He didn’t have time to process why that might be. “I’m not convinced they want Bronwyn out of office. She’s done amazing things for The Haven. It’s more profitable than ever. And she works more than any Pierce has ever worked, and that includes her grandfather and great-uncles, who, despite the family feud, worked hard to make The Haven what it is today.”
“He has a point,” Meredith spoke to Bronwyn. “Your cousins are lazy bums. Nathan’s the only one with any gumption, and he’s still not much to talk about. A few may want you gone, but it’s more likely they want you to stay in your position but be under their control.”
Bronwyn still looked like she couldn’t comprehend what they were saying. “What could they think they’ll catch me doing?”
“Not to bring up old wounds, but my guess is they’d love to catch you doing drugs, drinking on the job, or hooking up with a guest.” Landry’s words were soft but cut Mo like a torch slicingthrough metal. “As Mo has already stated, we”—she waved her hands to indicate all the people present—“know none of that’s possible, but I’m not sure your family understands grace or redemption.”
If her first statement had the power to cut through metal, her second statement was a blowtorch to Mo’s soul. Had he treated Bronwyn the same way her family had? Always assuming the worst? Always believing she would fall, fail, or flee?
He’d been behaving like a Pierce. If Granny found out, she’d string him up by his ankles and beat him with a broom.
And he’d let her because he deserved it.
“True that.” Meredith held out her hand and bumped Landry’s fist. “Let’s switch gears though. I have a better way to remove the devices. One that doesn’t involve sending Cassie in there to wreak havoc.”
Gray squeezed her close to him. “Let’s hear it.”
Meredith grinned. “I do believe it’s time to redecorate.”
Her declaration was met with a collective groan, then laughter, then nods.
“It’s brilliant, Mer.” Mo gave her a thumbs-up.
“I know, right?” Meredith bounced on her toes and turned to Bronwyn. “Your office needs a fresh coat of paint. That will require us to take everything off the walls. And while we’re at it, we might need to remove everything from the office. As soon as we take the offending picture off the wall, Mo can work his magic on the computer, and we can take the rest of the devices out by removing everything and putting it all in storage. You, of course, will have to work from home for a few days. So sorry.”
“It’s not a bad idea.” Cal looked at Mo, and Mo gave him a nod.
