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“There’s a note,” Blayze said, his eyes meeting mine.
Nodding, I rubbed at the back of my neck. “I saw it, but I wanted to get to Morgan first.”
One of the police officers started to ask me questions, while the other took photos of the cat and the area around Morgan’s back steps.
“Have you seen any teenagers hanging around back here?” the officer asked.
“No,” I answered, watching as he put gloves on and carefully removed the paper from beneath the cat. “I haven’t noticed anything odd, but I don’t live here. Hell, Morgan’s only been in the apartment for three days.” I glanced at Blayze. He was so laser-focused on the paper that he hadn’t heard a word I’d said.
“Anything else unusual besides the broken glass in the shop below?” the other cop asked.
“A dead bird was at her door last night, but we figured the cat had killed it.”
Blayze looked at me, his brows pulled down tight with worry. “What?”
I shook my head as I watched the other officer read the note, a look of concern on his face. “When we got back from dinner last night, there was a dead bird by the door. The cat was sitting on the bench up here. I figured he’d killed it and left it by the door. Maybe the people who lived here before owned the cat,” I said. “What does the note say?”
The other officer looked up at me. His gaze moved to his partner, who was climbing the steps, then back to me and Blayze. “Are you Ms. Shaw’s boyfriend?”
I jerked my head back, confused.
“She doesn’t have one. I mean, I don’t think she does,” Blayze said as he looked at me, one brow raised.
I shook my head but didn’t say anything else.
The officer let out a long exhale. “Do you know if she has anyone who’s giving her unwanted attention?”
I swallowed hard. “You mean like a stalker?”
The officer nodded.
“Not that I’m aware of,” I said, looking at Blayze.
He shook his head. “She hasn’t mentioned anything.”
“We need to check for prints on this paper, but someone is clearly trying to get her attention—and that someone is angry.”
“What does it say?!” I demanded. Blayze put his hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
The officer cleared his throat before he read the note.
“This is what you’re doing to me every time I see you with him. You’re mine, Morgan. Mine.”
I heard a gasp behind me, and I turned to see Morgan standing in the doorway. All the color drained from her face, and I lunged past the police officer and caught her right before she fell to the ground.
“There’s no way you’re staying here, Morgan,” Brock said as he paced back and forth across Morgan’s living room.
“Dad, I’m not going to let some crazy person scare me out of my own home. I haven’t even been here a week! I have a life, and designs to work on, and the boutique is opening in less than two weeks.”
Lincoln was sitting on the sofa next to Morgan. She took her daughter’s hands and said, “You’ll be safer at the ranch, darling.”
Tears formed in Morgan’s eyes, but she blinked them back. “Mom, I don’t want to hide out.”
“This person put a knife through a cat’s heart, Morgan! He’s fucking crazy, and you’re not staying here,” Blayze nearly shouted.
Morgan’s gaze flew to her brother. “I’m not leaving.”
“I can move in and stay in the guest room,” Georgiana said.
“The hell you will!” Blayze retorted, glaring at his fiancée. “It’s bad enough my sister’s here. The last thing I want is for you to be here as well.”
Brock cleared his throat. “Then it’s settled. Morgan, you’re coming back to the ranch.”
She stood up, her hands clenched into fists as she started to argue with her father. Blayze joined in, followed by Hunter. Morgan’s younger brother had been standing off to the side, not saying anything until now. All three men clearly seemed to think they could tell Morgan what to do, which pissed her off more.
“Okay, everyone calm down.” I walked into the middle of the room where they were all now standing and shouting over one another. “Calm down,” I said louder.
When it was clear no one was paying any attention to me, I let out a whistle, then yelled, “Everyone calm the hell down!”
All eyes turned to me…but the only person I looked at was Morgan.
“Morgan won’t be alone. I’ll be here with her.”
A look of relief crossed her face, and she closed her eyes for a brief moment.
“But you’ll be at the ranch during the day. How do we know this person won’t try to do something when she’s alone?” Georgiana asked.
“My father can handle things at the ranch for a bit. Blayze and I already talked about beefing up the security system and putting in some cameras.”
