Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
She nods, letting out a shaky breath. “I just… I put everything into Slice Slice Baby. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine, you know? And now…”
Her voice trails off, and I know she’s imagining the worst—broken windows, trashed equipment, stolen cash, or even worse, malicious graffiti or some new threatening note. I grit my teeth at the thought of her walking in there someday to see the damage firsthand.
I brush a hand down her arm, trying to think of some reassurance that isn’t empty. “Dean will get the details,” I say finally. “We’ll know soon exactly what went down. And if it’s connected to these threats, that’s just another piece of evidence that’ll bring us closer to stopping whoever’s behind this.”
She lifts her head, meeting my gaze. Her eyes are red-rimmed, lashes wet. “And if it’s just some random burglar?”
“Then the cops will handle it,” I assure her. “Either way, you’re still here and still safe. That’s what matters most.”
She sniffles, nodding slowly. “Yeah. I just… I hate being so helpless. I want to go there. I want to see it for myself, I want to fix whatever’s broken.”
My heart clenches again at her desperation. “I know,” I murmur. “But going back now could expose you. We don’t want that. Let me… let Dean… let us take care of it.”
She closes her eyes and leans into me, arms looping around my waist. I hold her tightly, feeling the steady beat of her heart against my chest.
After a few minutes, I feel my phone buzz again. My body tenses, and Aubree notices. She pulls back, eyes anxious. “Is that Dean?”
“Probably,” I say, fishing it out of my pocket. Sure enough, Dean’s name lights up the screen. I glance at Aubree. “You want me to answer here, or…?”
She nods, straightening her posture. “I want to hear it.”
I hit the green button, putting the call on speaker. “Dean,” I greet, my voice tight. “You’ve got news?”
Dean’s voice crackles through. “Yeah, I do. Cops got there, found the front door busted in. Cash register was pried open. Not sure how much was in it, but they’re taking prints. Doesn’t look like there’s major vandalism, but who knows if anything else is missing. Could be a smash-and-grab.”
Aubree closes her eyes, relief and frustration mingling on her face. “So it might just be a burglary?” she asks, her voice shaking.
“Could be,” Dean replies. “But I won’t rule out it being connected to the threats until we see the footage. A security camera at the corner store across the street might’ve caught something. I’m on it.”
“Thanks, Dean,” I say. “Let us know if you find out anything else.”
“You got it,” he says, then pauses. “How’re you doing, Aubree?”
Aubree forces a small smile, though there’s no way Dean can see it. “I’m okay,” she whispers.
“She’s hanging in there,” I reply. “Anything else?”
“Just that we keep pressing on. Bravo Team has eyes on Charles, no new developments. If it’s random, we’ll know soon enough. If it’s not…” Dean huffs a breath. “We’ll handle it.”
“Roger that,” I say, acknowledging. “Take care, Dean.”
He disconnects, and the line goes silent again. I set my phone aside, turning my focus back to Aubree. She lets out a shaky breath, her hands knotting together in her lap. “So maybe it’s just a robbery,” she says, like she’s trying to convince herself. “People break in all the time looking for easy cash, right? Good thing I left the shop empty. Whoever tried to rob me tonight got nothing.”
“Yeah,” I answer softly. “Good girl.”
She nods, though she doesn’t look entirely convinced. Then her gaze flicks to me, eyes full of questions I don’t have the answers to. “And if it’s not just a robbery?”
I hesitate, hating that I can’t offer a firm reassurance. “Then we’ll deal with it,” I say. “We’ve come this far, right?”
She clenches her jaw, a spark of fierce determination flickering to life. “Right.”
I slide my arm around her again, pulling her close so she can rest her head against my shoulder. She takes a few slow breaths, the tension in her body gradually easing. In the quiet, I can’t help but reflect on how insane our situation is—hiding in a cabin, her life’s work being ransacked, the constant question mark hanging over her stepfather’s involvement.
But for now, I hold her, letting her tears dry on my shirt as the minutes tick by. We’re in limbo yet again, waiting for the next piece of information that might change everything. As I press a kiss to the top of her head, one thought resonates clearly: Whatever comes next, I’ll face it with her. Because I’m not about to let some lowlife—and whoever’s pulling the strings—rob Aubree of the life she’s built or the future she deserves.
Chapter 26
Aubree
I can barely sleep at all. Between the fear and anger swirling in my head—someone broke into my shop, the shop I poured my entire heart into—and the guilt that I can’t do anything but hide away, my mind won’t shut down long enough to rest. Boone holds me while I toss and turn, and eventually, I drift into a fitful doze on his chest, lulled by the steady rise and fall of his breathing.