She stared at him, processing. “You deleted it.”
“I didn’t reject you. Never even looked.” He gestured at the space between them. “My wolf knows what you are. What we are.”
She absorbed this silently, and he saw something shift in her expression. But he couldn’t focus on that now. Not when she could be in danger.
“But that’s not why I’m here.” His voice hardened, shifting into operational mode. “The murder you witnessed, you need to understand what you’re dealing with. The way you described it to Reynolds, execution style, point-blank. That’s cartel signature.”
Her face paled. “Cartel?”
“The industrial district where you got lost is their territory. It has been for two years. Your van has ‘Sweet Summit Bakery’ painted on both sides. These operations have lookouts and cameras. They document everything that enters their territory.” He leaned forward, needing her to understand. “They don’t leave loose ends.”
“Gabriel said he’s investigating…”
“The police can’t protect you around the clock. Steel Protection has a safe house an hour from here. Full security, comfortable, completely off the grid. You could stay there until this blows over.”
She shook her head immediately. “I can’t. The Winter Festival is in three weeks.”
“We could arrange for you to work during the day with an escort, then back to the safe house at night.”
“That won’t work. I need to be in the bakery at four in the morning. When would I sleep?”
“These aren’t amateurs, Brie.” His voice came out harsher than intended.
“I can’t just leave at our busiest time of year.”
“I’ve seen what these people do to witnesses.” He stood, planting both hands on her desk.
She absorbed this, and he saw the moment it truly hit her. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you saw something that could get you killed.” He set his business card on her desk. “Steel Protection can keep you safe.”
She hesitated. “I have responsibilities. My parents are counting on me. I already screwed up the Harvest Moon Weekend delivery. I can’t make any more mistakes.”
Hunter moved toward the door. “Then I’ll do what I can from the outside.”
He left before she could respond, striding through the kitchen and the front bakery. The November air was sharp when he stepped outside, but he was already planning. She wouldn’t go to the safe house voluntarily? Fine. He’d make her safety his mission from the outside.
He pulled out his phone as he walked to his truck, hitting Dom’s contact.
“How’d it go with the witness?” Dom answered on the second ring.
“Brianna Reyner is my mate.”
Dom was silent for a moment. “That complicates things.”
Chapter
Seven
The door clicked shutbehind Hunter, and Brie sat frozen at her desk. Her office still smelled like him, and the small space felt suffocated by his phantom presence.
Brie grabbed her phone, fingers shaking as she dialed her father. It rang once, twice, three times before their cheerful vacation message kicked in: “Hi! You’ve reached Zach! We’re currently exploring the world and might be out of cell range. Leave a message and we’ll call you back when we can!”
Her mother’s laugh in the background of the recording made Brie’s throat tight.
“Dad, it’s me. I’m okay but...” She paused. She hadn’t been able to get ahold of them since the incident. She didn’t want to worry them, so she hadn’t told them what happened. “I really need to talk to you. Please call when you get this.”
She ended the call and immediately felt vulnerable. With a cartel potentially hunting her, she wanted nothing more than her mother’s calm wisdom and her father’s protective presence.Maybe they’d posted something on social media recently. She pulled up her app and opened her mom’s profile.
