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“She doesn’t have her phone on her. I have it,” I said, pulling it out of my other back pocket, already knowing what he was about to ask me. We made our way out the back door and to the private staircase that led to the two upper floors.
Before we even reached the steps, Morgan’s phone rang in my hand. It was the alarm company, and I answered the call. “No, no one’s home, but we’re almost there. Yes, pull up all the cameras.”
I raced up the steps, Blayze right on my heels. I unlocked the door off the deck and opened it. As soon as I stepped into the living room, my heart thundered when I saw the other door to our place had been kicked open.
“Fucking hell!” I said as I started toward the door.
Blayze was behind me—until he suddenly shot toward the door we’d just entered. “There he goes!”
I could hear sirens from the cops who must have already been on their way. I only prayed they came around back and not to the front of the store. I didn’t want to ruin Morgan and Georgiana’s opening day.
I scanned the rest of the apartment, not knowing if the person Blayze saw had entered alone. I checked the master bedroom last—and froze. I placed my hand to my mouth to keep the bile down.
At that moment, Avery texted me and Blayze.
Avery: What’s going on? I see a police car out back.
Thank God they hadn’t stopped in the front.
Me: don’t let Morgan or Georgiana know keep them distracted…someone broke into Morgan’s place
Avery: Okay. I’ll be sure they don’t come to the back room.
Me: thx
With that taken care of, I backed out of the bedroom, not wanting to touch anything. Turning, I raced to the back deck. I nearly fell down the steps when I saw Blayze on top of someone, struggling to hold him while the police attempted to cuff the guy. He started shouting something I couldn’t hear.
“You got him!” I yelled, racing down the steps.
“He paid me five-hundred bucks to break in and leave it! I swear I don’t know who he was!”
Skidding to a stop, I looked at Blayze as he stood and pushed his hands through his hair.
He drew in a few deep breaths. “This guy said he was paid to break in and leave something on Morgan’s bed. Did you see anything?”
I looked down at the young guy—a kid, really—whom the cops were lifting to his feet. “I swear, it’s the first time I’ve ever broken into someone’s house!” he said.
“What was his name?” I growled as I walked up to the kid.
He looked scared to death. “I don’t know!”
“What did he look like?”
Shaking his head, he replied, “I didn’t see his face. It was covered with a ski mask. He gave me the cash—it’s in my pocket. Then he gave me the stuff to put on the bed.”
“Did you write the note?” I asked.
“Note?” Blayze and one of the cops asked at the same time.
The kid shook his head. “No! He only gave me the stuff to leave behind, I swear! He told me to put everything on the bed.”
“What the fuck?” Blayze spun to look at me. “What’s up there?”
I swallowed back the bile that rose in my throat, my voice shaking as I said, “He scattered rose petals on the bed, and right in the center there’s a note…and a goddamn animal heart.”
“Did you touch any of it?” a cop asked sharply.
Looking at the man like he was an idiot, I bit back, “Of course not.”
“I’m gonna call Detective Billings,” Blayze said, sounding furious. “Go back to the store. Make sure the girls don’t find out.”
“What about the fucking shit on her bed?” I asked.
Blayze exhaled. “The cops will take it. I’ll stay with them. Just keep the girls away. I’ll call my mom and have her stop by before closing and offer to take the girls out to celebrate. I’ll call my Dad as well to let him know what happened.”
Nodding, I looked at the kid who was being put in the back of the police car. “Blayze, as soon as you find out what the note says…”
He put his hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I’ll tell you. Go, before they come looking for us.”
“Don’t forget to call a locksmith to repair the door.”
Blayze nodded.
As I turned to head back toward the store, I fought to keep the worry and fear off my face. The last thing I wanted to do was upset Morgan on today of all days.
Chapter Sixteen
MORGAN
To say I was flying on cloud nine would be an understatement. The opening of A La Chic Boutique had been a huge success. I’d even gotten a custom order for a dress from the mayor’s wife. A custom order! I kept pinching myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
