There were things he needed to take care of, and one of them had been sitting in the back of his mind since the night before.
Kendra.
He couldn’t keep avoiding a conversation with her. Not if things were going to move forward with Hadley. It wasn’t fair to keep the news from Kendra, especially since she was still working at Refuge Cove.
She deserved to hear about his new relationship directly from him. He owed her that much.
Max pulled up to her small apartment building, which was located just outside of town, and cut the engine. Unless her schedule had changed at her other job, this was her morning off.
He gathered his thoughts before walking to the door.
He knocked.
Footsteps sounded from inside, light but quick, and a moment later the door opened.
Kendra’s expression shifted from surprise to something softer when she saw him. “Max, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about—if you have a minute.”
She opened the door wider. “For you? Always. Come on in.”
Before he could, his phone rang.
It was Hadley.
He excused himself and stepped away from the door. “I need to take this. Just give me a minute.”
“Of course.”
“Max.” He could hear the strain in Hadley’s voice. “Something’s wrong.”
His entire body went still. “What happened?”
“Susie’s on the floor. I found her when I came in. She’s unconscious. I called 911—they’re on the way. She’s breathing, but she won’t wake up.”
Max’s grip tightened on the phone. “Are you safe?”
“I think so. I locked the door after I got inside.” Her voice wavered before she steadied it. “There’s no sign of anyone else here.”
“Stay where you are. I’m on my way.”
He ended the call and turned back to Kendra. “I’m sorry. I know we didn’t have a chance to talk, but I’ve got to go.”
Concern pinched her face. “Is everything okay?”
“Someone attacked Susie at the vet clinic.”
Kendra’s eyes widened. “Oh, no. Is she okay?”
Max shook his head, already backing away. “I don’t know.”
He didn’t wait for anything else.
He headed for his truck, his mind already racing as he got in and started the engine.
Something was very wrong.
And it was only getting worse.
