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“I’ll fucking kill him,” I growl as I pull up next to the damaged vehicle. My head is on a swivel as I get out of the truck, but no matter how hard I look, I can’t see Brooke anywhere. “Where is she?”

Asha’s hand clamps down on my shoulder stopping me in my tracks. “Take a breath. She’s safe.”

“Where?” grinds out through my clenched teeth.

“Inside, doing her job. Apparently oblivious to the state of her car.”

“What?”

“An employee called it in. Saw it when she arrived for work this morning, told Camden when she got inside. He called me. Direct.”

“And no one has told her yet?”

“No. Cam’s getting a copy of the security footage from the last twenty-four hours and⁠—”

“She needs to know. Don’t take control away from her.” I’m turning, get two steps away before Asha’s words stop me.

“I wanted the car on the truck before we brought her out.”

Spinning back, I get up in his face. “Do not exclude her from this. I get why you want to, hell, I want her out of this shit too, but she already feels out of control of the situation. Plus she needs to know how dangerous this prick is.”

“You’re right. Okay, let me send one of my guys in⁠—”

“I’ll go. It’ll be less shocking if it’s me delivering the news than finding a police officer in her workplace. Again.”

Holding up a hand, Asha nods. “Ask whoever is on reception where to find her.”

I don’t tell him I don’t need to ask. I barely admit to myself that I’ve scoped out her new workplace and accommodation to satisfy my need to know she’s protected.

Fuck.

Protecting this woman has become an obsession. Every day I’m checking in—from a distance most of the time—to make sure she’s not being harassed by that fucker. Seems I missed something though. The state of her car proves I haven’t been vigilant enough.

That stops today.

I tip my chin at the girl behind the reception desk. I don’t know her name which is unusual. Then again, a lot of new seasonal staff worked here this past summer. We’re on the tail end of the warmer months and moving quickly into the cold ones where things slow down. Not much. We still have the draw of outdoor winter sports but it’s not as big as our summer offerings.

She doesn’t stop me when I push through the door marked ‘staff only’ which tweaks my nerves. What if I was Brooke’s ex looking to hurt her?

Shaking my head, I shove those thoughts aside and concentrate on finding Brooke. She should be in the offices beside the kitchen. Passing a few staff members, all of them familiar, I tip my chin but can’t manage a smile before I hit the area I’m after.

Alice Dean, head of housekeeping at the Lodge for as long as I can remember, sees me first. Her initial smile slowly slips from her lips. “Granger.”

“Alice. Brooke around?” I try to keep the tension from my voice but I know I fail when Alice’s frown deepens.

“She’s just in the kitchen getting us both a coffee.”

“Okay.” I turn, but her hand on my arm stops me. I glance back.

“Is this about the car in the parking lot? Was it Brooke’s?”

“Yes.”

“Damn. We heard about it. But not whose it was. Figured it was a guest’s.”

“No.”

“She’s only been here a few days and she’s the best assistant I’ve had, Granger. Don’t let this make her run.”