“Did you leave your door open?” We had pulled into the driveway and naturally, as the security guy, it was the first thing I saw. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I already knew the answer. No one ever leaves the front door open.

Beside me, Maggie frowned. “Nope. I locked it before I left. I was the last one out of the house.”

“That’s right. I was in the car because you threatened me.” Malcolm crossed his arms over his chest, but after taking the first anti-anxiety pill when we left the pharmacy, he was too mellow to get worked up.

After rolling her eyes, Maggie explained. “He was slow. I gave him to the count of three to get in the car. Then I locked up. I even turned off his computers.” She inhaled sharply. “His computers!”

The car was in park, but I hadn’t turned it off. Now, I didn’t intend to. I’d go in and make sure there wasn’t a burglar inside. I shook my head. In a neighborhood filled with beautiful two story executive homes with perfectly manicured lawns and magnificent landscaping, this was the smallest, most dilapidated house in the neighborhood. The paint was peeling on the siding. One window had a crack repaired by packing tape. The grass was a little too long, the trees and shrubs were overgrown, and the roof looked like it was about five years past its prime. No robber came here by chance and yet clearly someone had been here. Already, I’d come to the same conclusion as Maggie, but she had bolted from the car before I could stop her. “Wait!” I called out as I opened the car door.

“But…” She pointed at the door and her desperation was obvious.

Standing, I turned and glanced at Malcolm in the back seat. “Please stay here. Keep the doors locked. If anyone comes out, hit the panic button.” I pointed to the red button I’d had installed in the console. After he nodded, I shut the door behind me and rushed to catch up to Maggie who stood impatiently on the stoop. “Don’t touch anything,” I urged as I pulled a glove from my pocket. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t comment. “What? Draco Security, remember? We handle residential, commercial, and online security issues.”

“I see.” Then she gestured for me to go inside.

“All I want you to do is note if anything is missing, after you call 911. I’ll clear the house and come back for you. Got it?” I waited for her to take my phone since she didn’t seem to have one on her.

She stomped her foot. “Fine.”

I chuckled. “You actually make me look patient.” Then I squeezed her hand and carefully pushed the door open the rest of the way with my glove. In order to gain access to the house, the door had been kicked in. There was nothing elegant about this. I glanced at the lock, but quickly realized there were no tool marks to suggest access was attempted any other way. To the left, I found the dining room. There was a huge silver candelabrum on the center of the table and the sideboard had a silver platter and a silver serving bowl. My guess? If I’d have opened the drawers, I’d have discovered an untouched set of silverware too.

I rounded the corner to the kitchen and nearly ran into Maggie. “What are you doing in here? I haven’t cleared the house yet,” I grumbled.

“Well, you should’ve. It’s not a big house.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m guessing you’ve already ruled out the whole random burglar theory.”

“Before I even walked in.” I pointed to the dining room. “And if I needed further proof, I only had to see all the silver still here.”

“Oh, good. Then I can at least sell that and try to solve all our financial woes.” She sighed. “Come on. This way to Dad’s office.” Maggie motioned for me to follow her. We moved through the kitchen, past the formal living room, and back out to the foyer. I followed her up the stairs and tried to focus on the task at hand which was made infinitely more challenging by the way her backside swayed with each step.

I couldn’t help but notice the way she slowed as she reached the landing. She inhaled deeply and scanned the room. “Well. To think I’d made fun of my father when he bolted down all the important items in his work space. I stand corrected.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I hope this means they couldn’t get what they wanted.”

When I reached her side, my brows rose in surprise. This was the only room that had been touched. The monitor was broken, the door hiding the tower had been yanked from the hinges, but because it was secured and locked inside the compartment, the tower was still intact. There were huge dents in the file cabinet. The upholstery on the couch had been shredded. Everywhere I looked showed some manner of devastation. “He’s impressive,” I murmured as I studied his homemade security measures. “He’s hired.” I chuckled.

“The police should be here soon.” Maggie began to pace. “Oh, my word. We left him in the car. Look around. I gotta go check on him.” She waved as she rushed down the stairs.

I soon followed her and while she climbed into the car to talk with her father, I walked around to the trunk, popped it, and pulled out my leather cross-body bag with all the tools of my trade. When I was done, I wandered around to the passenger window and tapped on it. “Roll it down,” I directed as I pointed to the button in the handle. As soon as it was down a few inches, I asked, “Do you have a key for all those locks in your office?”

Malcolm nodded proudly. I expected him to reach into a pocket and pull them out. Instead, he provided instructions. “You’ll find them inside the safe in the office closet.”

I rubbed my forehead. “I take it back. We’re going to need to have a serious discussion about security.”

Maggie seemed to ignore me. Instead she frowned at her father. “What safe?”

“Open the closet door, then the safe is on the floor. The combination is my wedding anniversary.” He smiled proudly and folded his hands over his stomach as he leaned back in the seat.

“Wasn’t the closet door open?” Maggie frowned.

“I believe so.” I sighed. “And you don’t remember seeing a safe either, huh?” I sighed as she shook her head. “Did you hear that? Used his anniversary.” I swear I could feel a migraine threatening from how hard I worked to control my temper. “I bet it will take all of ten minutes to crack it.”

“I get it. Now what,” she grumbled.

“Okay, I have to pick a bunch of locks, then pack everything up. Want to help?” I eyed her curiously while doubting she’d want to leave her father.

“Yes.” She slid out of her seat and stood, her shoulders thrown back resolutely while she walked around the front of my vehicle to meet me. Then a police car pulled up next to the curb and a dark sedan followed. “As soon as I speak with the police,” she grumbled.

I laid a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t delay them too long. I know they will want to fingerprint the place and we don’t need to be stuck here all night.”

“I’ll hustle them upstairs as quickly as possible. Promise.” Then she glanced at her father. “Think we should get him out of the car? Maybe sit him in the living room at least?”

“Yes, bring him in with you.” I followed her line of sight. Malcolm seemed calm. The pill had worked a little too well. “I’m going upstairs to take pictures, grab some fingerprints, and figure out our next steps while the police do their thing.”

“Sounds like a plan, but won’t the police want to do their own forensic investigation?” Her brow furrowed.

I chuckled. “Of course, but my team will have the answers before theirs. Watch.”

Her head tilted. “This can’t be guilt,” she noted. “What’s your angle?”

“Who says I have an angle?” I tried to look as innocent as possible, but clearly failed miserably as indicated from the scowl on her face. “We’ll talk after. Let’s secure everything first, okay?” When she nodded hesitantly, I quickly strode up the sidewalk and into the house to begin my investigation.

* * *

“Pack a bag,” Blaise ordered while we stood in the foyer.

His tone made me prickly. “Listen, I’m sure you do a fantastic job of managing your people, but I’m not one of your people. Hell, I don’t even like you.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

From the way his lips twitched, Blaise appeared to be trying not to smile. Finally, he gave up and smirked. “I’m really good at what I do. Oh, and you don’t have to like me, but if you want to stay alive and ensure your financial future, I suggest you do as I tell you.”

“Alive? Now my life is in danger?” My hand shook slightly as I tucked some loose hair behind one ear.

He gestured toward the door. “See this? They did it in broad daylight. These people don’t give a fuck. You think they’d hesitate to harm anyone who stood in their way?”

“Fine.” I threw my hands in the air. “Only…now what? I don’t have money to hire you, or pay for a hotel, or even to stash everything in a storage unit. Hell, I can’t even afford the dollar menu at McDonald’s right now. So, you can just mosey on out of here. Thanks for the ride.” I turned on my heels without even waiting for him to leave, and trudged into the kitchen to grab a glass of wine. Maybe if I could relax some, I could think more clearly and figure out what to do next. At the moment, I was at my breaking point. No matter how hard we worked, ever since my mother’s illness, we couldn’t get ahead. Fuck, at the moment, we were barely staying afloat. Feeling defeated, I pulled a glass from the cupboard, then opened the fridge and held it under the spigot for the white zinfandel.

There was a groan behind me. “Let’s forget for a moment you were about to drink wine from a box. Why aren’t you packing?” Blaise gently moved me away from the fridge and reached for my glass.

Of course, I wasn’t ready to give it up so easily. “Wait!” I pleaded as I gulped down the meager ounce in the bottom of the glass.

He sighed. “I’ll give you wine later. From a bottle, even. Now…pack.”

“Pack what? And why? And…and…and where do think we’re going to go?” My shoulders slumped, and tears prickled my eyes.

“Hey…” Blaise raised my chin and forced me to look at him. “Are you sad now?”

I squinted up at him, the very act causing the tears to leak out of the corners of my eyes and drip down my cheeks. I sniffled and shook my head slightly. “No. I skipped over sad and made a beeline for broken.”

Frowning, he shook his head. “No, you’re merely tired. You’re worn out. A good dinner, a nice bubble bath, and some sleep will fix all of that.” I opened my mouth to speak, but naturally, he interrupted. “You’re coming home with me.”

I stiffened. “I most certainly am not.”

“Yes, you are. Both of you. You’ll be safe. I need to see this through. It isn’t just about you and your father anymore; this is one of those times where I’m going to have to save the world.” Blaise shrugged like it was no big deal.

“Save the world often, do you?” I rolled my eyes.

“More often than you would imagine.” He chuckled. “So, pack up and we’ll get out of here.”

I stood there silently, considering his words. The idea was tempting. I barely remembered what it was like to fall asleep carefree. My shoulders ached from being so tense every damn second of each incredibly long day. Before I could decide whether or not to acquiesce, two men dressed in black t-shirts, black cargo pants, and black lace-up boots strode into the kitchen. I knew they weren’t police. When I glanced at Blaise, he nodded at them. “Upstairs, in the office. Files in the locked cabinet, tower in the desk, and any flash drives you happen to find. You’ll need to get a little creative with the tower. I’ll be up in a minute.”

“You got it, boss,” the first man responded as he turned to walk away. The second man nodded at Blaise and followed the first.

When we were alone again, I stood there, struggling to make a decision. Safe sounded nice. I wrapped my arms around my body and stared at the floor. Suddenly, his hands were on my shoulders, kneading and rubbing my weary muscles. I didn’t mean to, but soon I found myself murmuring, “You win.”

His response surprised me. “We’re all winning,” he whispered in my ear.

Shivers ran down my spine and ignited a fire deep within me, places I’d long forgotten existed. I licked my lips as my lids fluttered shut. His hands started to slow until he was barely touching me, and I reached up to catch them as he began to pull away. “More?” My voice sounded pathetic to my own ears and I was filled with shame.

Instead, Blaise wrapped his arms around my upper body and rested his head upon mine. “Tonight. I promise. If you want, I’ll massage your shoulders until you fall asleep.” He turned me to face him and I knew my cheeks were scarlet.

“You’ll be at it a while. I’ve had this insomnia thing going on for the last few years.” I smirked. “You sure you’re up for it?”

Blaise stared into my eyes with such intensity that I couldn’t help but notice how vibrantly blue his own were, almost like two perfect sapphires. “I love a challenge.”