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“Heading there now,” I answer as enthusiastically as I can manage.

She gives me a thumbs-up and walks away, her heels clicking against the tile. I stand there for a second, trying to mentally hype myself up for something I don’t want to do.

There are a few people in the room when I get there, so I pour myself a cup of the coffee waiting on the counter and pull out my phone.

Logan:

Miss you already. Everything okay?

His reply comes almost immediately.

Ryder:

I’m good, just working. Cameras are quiet. Don’t stress, okay?

I exhale and type back a quick response.

Logan:

I can’t help it when you’re involved. You mean too much to me, baby.

I make my way to a chair near the back of the room, nodding at a few coworkers as they chat about projects and after-work plans. Everything around me feels completely normal, so why can’t I shake the feeling that everything’s about to come crashing down?

The meeting starts, and I try my best to focus—the HR rep drones on and on about updated policies and workplace initiatives. I scribble a few notes to look engaged, but the only thing on my mind is Ryder.

I pull out my phone to check the cameras in hopes ofeasing my nerves. Like he said earlier, nothing is showing up, but I do see a new text from him.

Ryder:

Miss you too. Do what you need to and come home to me soon.

I smile to myself before being yanked back to reality.

“Something interesting, Logan?”

I jerk my head up, meeting the HR rep’s pointed stare.

“No, sorry,” I say quickly, shoving my phone back into my pocket, even more annoyed about the interruption.

The meeting drags, each minute stretching painfully long. By the time it ends, I’m out of my seat before anyone else. I have no idea why I even needed to be here in the first place. I get that it’s a required quarterly meeting, but it feels like a complete waste of time. I showed up and did my part though, so now I’m getting the fuck out of there.

Any overachieving I used to do? Dead and gone.

I wave a few half-hearted goodbyes, pack up my bag, and head for the parking garage. I’ll call Ryder once I’m on the road, like I promised—he’ll want to know I’m on my way.

My footsteps echo across the silent parking garage in a way that sets my nerves on edge. I keep glancing over my shoulder, but there’s nothing there.

When I near my car, I let out a sigh of relief and hit the unlock button. The chirp echoes louder than it seems necessary, and suddenly, I feel like a target has been placed on my back.

I should have unlocked it with the key, damn it.

I reach for the door, fingers barely grazing the handle, when a voice I never wanted to hear again stops me cold.

“Logan.”

My breath locks in my throat as my hand stills. A sickening wave of unease curls through my gut, forcing me to turn around slowly as my heart hammers in my chest.

Kyle stands a few feet away, hands buried in the pockets of a dark zip-up sweatshirt. Guess he decided to leave the leather one at home today. He’s wearing jeans and boots, and it feels like everything he put on was intentionally chosen to blend in.