My chest went tight. “Dang it it. Maybe I shouldn’t come here anymore.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Lira snapped. “If you stop, no one will be keeping an eye on that injury. You think you're doing fine, but I can feel the strain. Your body’s compensating in dangerous ways.”
I rubbed a hand down my face. “It’s not you I’m worried about. If Levi knows, then the clan?—”
“The clan won’t touch me,” she said flatly. “I don’t work for the clan anymore. And I don’t scare easy, Beau.”
I looked away, jaw tight. The ghosts I carried weren’t just mine. They had a way of reaching for the people I cared about too.
I drove back to Sugarpaw Springs in silence, the hum of the engine doing nothing to drown out the churn in my chest. Lira’s words stuck with me.
The past never stayed buried. No matter how hard I tried.
By the time I pulled into the alley behind Bear and Bun, the tension in my shoulders had bled into my limbs. Still, I felt that familiar spark of anticipation.
I wanted to see Sean.
But as I stepped inside, Rafael was behind the counter, dusting flour off his apron. He glanced up, caught my eye, and walked over with a look that set my instincts flaring.
“Where’s Sean?” I asked.
“On his break,” Rafael said, voice carefully even. “You got a second?”
“Sure,” I said.
We exited the bakery. The back alley was cool and quiet, the scent of cinnamon and yeast still clinging to the air. Rafael leaned against the wall, arms folded.
“Someone came by this morning,” he said. “Didn’t order anything. Just asked if we’d seen someone matching Sean’s description.”
My heart thumped once, hard. “What kind of someone?”
“Out-of-towner. Looked like a PI. Clean cut, sharp eyes, one of those guys who says a lot without saying much.”
I frowned. “You think Sean saw him?”
“I think Sean froze when I mentioned it.”
That silence pressed heavy between us.
“I like the kid,” Rafael added, voice low. “He’s working hard. Seems like he wants to stay. But we’ve fought too hard to make this place safe. Can’t afford surprises.”
“I’ll talk to him,” I said, jaw tight.
“You sure that’s a good idea?” Rafael asked gently. “You’ve got a soft spot for him. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s something to be careful about.”
“I know,” I said.
Chapter 7
Beau
The bellabove the door chimed, but something in it made my head snap up like a predator on alert. It was Sean.
He stepped back into the bakery, the cold still clinging to his cheeks and collar.
His hands were shoved into his jacket pockets, shoulders slightly hunched, and his eyes scanned the shop like he wasn’t just looking for someone, but checking if it was safe to exhale.
My heart gave this stupid hopeful kick in my chest, until I saw the way his expression faltered when our eyes met. Like he wasn’t sure if I’d be glad to see him… or if I’d already heard.
