“I’m fine.”

  “I see blood. That’s not fine.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “It’s a graze.”

  Kaden reached out to lightly touch her forehead, a surge of fury racing through him as he realized it was more than a scrape. Had someone hit her? The mere thought caused a red mist to cloud his brain.

  “I feel a lump.”

  She pulled away, looking oddly embarrassed. “A graze and a lump. I’ve had worse hitting my head when I’m stacking the shelves.”

  “You should still see a doctor,” he insisted.

  “Kaden. I’m fine.”

  With an effort, Kaden forced himself to leash his need to insist on rushing her to the hospital. Lia wasn’t stupid. If she was seriously injured, she would seek out medical attention. Releasing the breath he’d been holding, he forced himself to turn his attention to how she was hurt.

  “Tell me what happened.”

  She paused, as if gathering her thoughts. Or maybe just finding the necessary words.

  “I was working at my desk when I heard glass shattering in the alley,” she finally said.

  Kaden glanced toward the window, making sure it wasn’t broken. Which meant it had to be something outside.

  “I’m guessing you didn’t lock the door to the office and call 911?”

  “I didn’t know what had happened.” She jutted out her chin, looking defensive. “It could have been someone throwing something into the dumpster. They do it all the time.”

  He scowled, his gut twisting into knots at the thought that she’d put herself in danger.

  “Lia,” he rasped.

  She held up a slender hand. “I heard a noise and opened the back door. I didn’t leave the building.”

  He closed his eyes, counting to ten. He was overreacting, but he didn’t know how to stop himself. If something happened to this woman, it would shatter something inside him. It didn’t make any sense. They were barely more than strangers.

  But he knew it beyond a shadow of a doubt.

  Once he managed to regain his composure, he opened his eyes and gazed down at her troubled expression.

  “Did you see anything?”

  Her features tightened. “The back window of my SUV is busted.”

  Kaden wasn’t surprised he hadn’t noticed. When he pulled into the alley, he’d been so focused on getting to Lia that an elephant could have been standing there.

  “Do you know who did it?”

  “No.” She lifted her hand to touch the wound. “I leaned forward to get a better look at my vehicle and I felt something hit my head. I jumped back and locked the door. Then I bolted the front door and sent you the text.”

  Kaden stepped forward to wrap his arms around her, pulling her close. He needed to feel the warmth of her slender body. It was the only way to assure himself she was truly unharmed. Plus, there was a secret part of him that was smugly pleased at the knowledge that she’d reached out to him when she was in danger. It proved she trusted him.

  Breathing deeply, he caught the hint of her shampoo. It was fresh, with a sharp tang of lemon. A scent far more enticing than the most expensive perfume. He swallowed a groan, his hands skimming down the curve of her back, pressing her even closer. She fit against him with sheer perfection. Two halves of one whole.

  Cheesy. But true. There’d been a sense of destiny nestled in his heart since he first stepped into the store and caught sight of Lia Porter.

  Savoring the much needed moment of peace, Kaden rested his cheek on the top of her head, smiling as Lia wrapped her arms around his waist. They both needed a second to gather their strength. And remind each other that not everything in the world was awful.

  A minute passed, and then another, before Kaden reluctantly lowered his arms and stepped back. Someone had deliberately attacked Lia. This was no longer just an attempt to discover what had happened to Vanna. Now it was a quest to destroy whoever had dared to hurt Lia.

  “I’m going to have a look around the alley. I’ll be right back.”

  She nodded, thankfully not insisting on joining him. “I’ll be upstairs.”

  They left the office together, Lia crossing the hallway to open the door to the stairs while Kaden headed out of the building. His jaw tightened as he easily caught sight of the busted window on the SUV. Making a slow circle around the vehicle, he assured himself that there wasn’t any other damage before peering into the back compartment to see a brick on the floorboard.

  Straightening, Kaden felt a stab of frustration. It seemed like such a petty crime. Like slashing his tires. But he sensed there was more to it than mere vandalism. He turned, glancing back at the door where Lia had leaned out. Next to the building, he could see a brick that matched the one that had busted the window.

  A shiver raced through his body. This had been a deliberate trap. He was sure of it.

  With a grim determination, Kaden walked down the alley, his gaze sweeping from side to side. He found what he was looking for a few minutes later. A stack of bricks were tossed in a haphazard pile behind the dumpster.

  Standing next to the bricks, Kaden realized this would be the perfect spot to hide after busting the window. It would give the assailant a perfect view of Lia as she stepped out of the door while remaining in the shadows. And it was a short enough distance to make it easy to hit her with the brick.

  So, the question was whether they’d intended to scare her or actually do physical damage? Perhaps even kill her?

  Gritting his teeth, Kaden continued to search the alley, looking for anything that might give a clue to the attacker. He could see footprints and tire tracks, but the frozen snow meant there was no way to tell if they were fresh or not. And even if they were, it wasn’t much help to Kaden. He was an amateur sleuth, not a professional. He needed a clue that came complete with a name and a phone number.

  He headed back inside, locking the door behind him before climbing the stairs. Lia was in the kitchen, pouring hot water into a cup. The scent of tea filled the air, and Kaden suppressed a smile. He was going to suggest a shot of whiskey, but whatever calmed her nerves.

  Turning at his entrance, she leaned against the counter and took a sip of the steaming liquid.

  “Anything?” she asked.

  He crossed the wooden floor, halting next to the table. “There were bricks piled around the dumpster. That’s what broke your window and hit you on the head. I’m guessing they threw the first brick to lure you out to the alley so they could attack you there.” He folded his arms over his chest. “Who knows there aren’t any security cameras out there?”

  “Everyone.” She shrugged when he sent her a frown of disbelief. “My mother went to the city council to complain about the feral cats getting into the dumpster a few years ago. The council refused to do anything to help because she didn’t have video proof of the damage or what had caused it. It was a public hearing, so anyone could have heard her admit she didn’t have surveillance back there.”

  Kaden sighed. That was . . . unhelpful. “That means anyone in Pike might have been hiding behind the dumpster.”

  She grimaced. “Why would they throw a brick at me?”

  “I’m guessing it was a warning.”

  “For me? Or you?”

  “Both of us, probably.”

  “I find it hard to imagine the mayor hiding in the alley in the freezing cold to lob bricks at me.”

  Kaden had to agree. Tate Erickson reminded him of the power-hungry wannabes in Hollywood. They were willing to sell their souls to achieve their goals, but they didn’t have the balls for a fair fight. They would cheat, lie, and manipulate to get what they wanted.

  “That doesn’t mean he’s not responsible,” Kaden said. “He’s not a man who gets his hands dirty. He hires someone else to do it.”

  Her lips parted, but before she could respond, her eyes widened as if she’d just thought of something. “Oh.”

  “What is it?”

  “I just remembered. After I slammed shut the door, I heard someone gunning an engine. It was loud. Like a jet taking off.”

  Kaden tucked her words in the back of his mind. One good thing about Pike being such a small town was that anything distinctive would stand out.

  “That should be easy enough to track down.” He studied her, attempting to keep his expression casual. “But not today. Do you feel up to packing an overnight bag?”

  She blinked in surprise. “I’m fine. But why do I need an overnight bag?”

  “We’re going to Madison.”

  Lia was shaking her head before he finished speaking. “I can’t leave the store.”

  “Okay.” He was wise enough not to push. Lia was a control freak. Like him. She had to feel like she was making the decision, not being forced into it. “I have a meeting set up with Vanna’s foster mom early tomorrow morning. I thought you might want to be there.”

  She narrowed her eyes, easily sensing she’d been outmaneuvered. “You know I do.” She hesitated, then, turning, she set aside her teacup to grab her phone from the counter. “I’ll let Della know the store will be closed for a day or two. I don’t want her or Wayne here alone.”

  “No one should be here alone.”

  His stern tone held a warning that he wasn’t going to make the same mistake again. There was no way in hell he was going to leave her here without someone close by. She glanced around the loft, her eyes darkening with a pain that had nothing to do with the wound on her head.

  “This isn’t just a store, it’s my home.”

  Kaden stepped forward, cupping her chin in his hand to tilt back her head. He wanted her to see the resolve in his eyes.

  “We’re going to discover who’s behind this, Lia. Then things can go back to normal.” His thumb brushed the soft curve of her lower lip. “Or perhaps there will be a new normal.”

  Their gazes locked, a fragile promise of what might be pulsing in the air between them.

  “A new normal?” she whispered.

  “That’s what I’m hoping for.” He bent his head, pressing a light kiss against her mouth before he straightened and stepped back. “Pack a bag and I’ll meet you downstairs.”

  Chapter 15

  Ryan Burke stood at his office window, watching the last of his employees drive out of the back lot. Earlier, he’d assured his receptionist that he would lock up and the nightly cleaning crew wouldn’t arrive until midnight.

  It was one of the rare times he was completely alone in the isolated plant. Ryan grimaced, feeling an odd tingle of unease snake down his spine.

  “Heebie-jeebies,” he muttered, repeating the words his grandma had used when she had a shiver.

  He wasn’t afraid. It was just a reaction to being alone in a large, empty building, he assured himself. And a distaste for the upcoming meeting he’d arranged.

  Usually, he didn’t mind throwing his weight around. Figuratively speaking. What was the point of having money and power if you couldn’t force people to do what you wanted? And if he had to break a few of them to get to this position, he didn’t have any regrets. At least he didn’t have any moral regrets. He did what he had to do. But he was beginning to have doubts about the wisdom of agreeing to work with partners when he made his deal with the devil. He knew he could keep his mouth shut, but he didn’t trust anyone else. And even with the judge dead, he couldn’t be sure his sins would remain buried in the past.

  Thankfully, he was smart enough to keep the receipts. He intended to make sure no one was going to stab him in the back. Not without having their own sins revealed.

  The darkness thickened as Ryan stood staring out the window. He’d been requested to schedule the meeting to occur when most of the good folks of Pike were sitting down to eat dinner. That was fine with him. It was the one time they weren’t peering out to see who was doing what and who they were doing it with. Nosy bastards.

  There was the flash of headlights as a vehicle pulled into the back parking lot.

  Good. Ryan wanted to be done with this so he could head home. His wife no doubt had plans to meet with friends for dinner. They rarely spent a night at home, despite the fortune he spent on their fancy brick mansion. Probably because they didn’t have anything to say to each other. In fact, they rarely glanced in each other’s direction. After twenty years of marriage, they stayed together because it was too inconvenient to split up.

  Moving to the wall safe that was hidden behind a very fine watercolor of a tropical sunset, Ryan pulled out a faded manila envelope. It wasn’t thick, but the information inside was explosive. The sort of information that could destroy the city of Pike.

  He walked back to his desk, pausing to tap a button on the panel that controlled the security cameras. He’d been reminded by his soon-to-arrive guest that they didn’t want any record of this meeting. Then, turning, he waited for the knock on his door.

  And waited. And waited.

  Ryan muttered a curse. He’d specifically said to meet in his office. But he’d also said to use the back entrance. It hadn’t occurred to him how dark it would be. And how difficult it might be to navigate through the maze of conveyer belts and long, overhead rails where the carcasses moved through the plant on massive hooks. Obviously, he was going to have to locate his missing visitor before they got spooked and left.

  With the ease of years spent keeping a close eye on his operation, Ryan crossed to the inner door that opened directly into the heart of the plant. He shoved it open, grimacing as he realized it was even darker than he’d expected. Only the glow from the exit light provided a dim glow.

  “Hello?” Ryan took a few steps forward, his brows pulling together when there was no answer. “My office is this way.” There was nothing but silence. “What the hell?”

  Accepting that he was going to have to turn on the main lights even though he’d hoped to avoid anyone realizing he was hanging around at this hour, Ryan reached toward the nearby wall. Before he could locate the switch, however, he sensed a movement beside him. Confused that his companion hadn’t bothered to answer when he called out, Ryan whirled around, intending to express his desire to make this meeting short and sweet.

  The words never left his lips.

  Instead, there was a violent shock wave that started at the back of his skull and blasted toward his eyes.

  Grunting at the explosion of agony, Ryan fell to his knees, his hands lifting to cover his face. Was he having an aneurism? A stroke?

  It wasn’t until he caught another movement next to him that he realized whoever was standing beside him had attacked him with some sort of weapon. And that they were about to strike again. Ryan tried to duck, but his brain was fogged with pain and his body refused to cooperate. He knelt there like a willing sacrifice as the second blow connected with the back of his skull, shattering his consciousness into shards of darkness.

  He didn’t know how long he was out, but he was sure it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes at most. He shivered, sensing it was the icy air that had revived him. Was he outside? He struggled to open his eyes. They felt swollen, but he managed to pry them open far enough to see he was still inside the plant. He recognized the stainless-steel ceiling above him. This was one of the massive freezers that were attached to the side of the building.

  This was weird. What was he doing there? He couldn’t have walked this far. Not with his head aching and his limbs so numb he couldn’t feel them.

  He was still trying to figure out what was happening when a shadowy form bent over him.

  Ryan released a sob of fear, desperately trying to form the words for mercy. They remained stuck in his throat as the intruder bent down and he felt a hand shoved into the front pocket of his slacks. He grunted in shock, baffled by what was happening until there was a glow of light as his phone was pulled from his pocket. A futile pang of hope that he could snatch the stupid thing and call for help bloomed and withered as he watched it tossed onto the cement floor and then crushed beneath the ruthless heel of a heavy boot.

  The light flickered and died. Just as Ryan’s consciousness flickered and died.

  He was sucked back into the darkness as the freezer door slammed shut. His last thought was that the envelope he’d been clutching was gone.

  * * *

  Early the next morning, Kaden returned to his brother’s condo and quietly made his way to the living room. It was a long, elegant space with black leather furniture and a polished marble floor. It’d always felt cold and impersonal to Kaden, but the view of Lake Mendota visible through the floor-to-ceiling window that ran the length of the wall more than compensated for the lack of warmth.

  Placing the pink pastry boxes he’d collected from a nearby bakery on the coffee table that stood in the center of the floor, he crossed into the kitchen and switched on the coffee maker.

  Only then did he slip out of his coat and smooth back his hair, which had been ruffled by the morning breeze. He stretched his arms over his head, feeling oddly energized by his walk. Or maybe it was the fact that since they’d arrived in Madison the gnawing worry that he’d put Lia in danger was temporarily tucked into the back of his mind. He’d been careful to make sure they weren’t followed when they left Pike. Better yet, Darren’s condo was in a gated community that had a full-time guard. No one was getting in without him knowing. For the moment, they were safe.

  Or maybe it was because he’d slept in a bed knowing that only a thin wall separated him from the woman who was rapidly becoming his obsession.

  As if his thoughts had conjured her, Lia strolled out of the guest bedroom. She’d recently showered, and the short strands of her hair were damp, her cheeks flushed. Dressed in jeans and a soft, green sweater, she looked like a pixie stepping out of the woods.

  Desire spiked through Kaden, as hot and fierce as a bolt of lightning. But that was to be expected. What was unexpected was the sweet satisfaction that settled in the center of his being at having her walk into the room. As if something had been missing until she appeared.

  Dangerous . . .

  He ignored the warning that whispered through the back of his mind. It was too late to take precautions. At least when it came to Lia Porter. Besides, he was more concerned with the hint of bruising that surrounded the cut on her temple. It wasn’t as bad as he feared, but it was enough to make his gut twist with anger.