Page 84 of Duty Unbound

My phone rang again. It was Logan.

“How’s Clark?” I asked without preamble.

“Paramedics say he has a concussion but should be fine,” Logan reported. “He says someone clocked him as he was going into his room. Never got a glimpse of a face.”

“Let me guess, someone roughly his size and height?” That was why the stalker chose Clark.

“That’s about right,” Logan replied. “The attacker took his costume, mask, and credentials after tying him up.”

“Stay with him,” I instructed. “Make sure he gives a full statement to police, and don’t leave him alone until we know more.”

I hung up and filled Jace in on Clark’s condition.

“It wouldn’t take much to develop a plan involving the pre-performance circle.” I stood at the window, staring out at the city lights but seeing nothing. My mind was racing through possibilities, contingencies, security measures. “It was a good plan. The masks make for a security factor we didn’t take into consideration. We’ll need to check everyone individually from now on.”

“Yes.”

“One thing’s certain,” I said finally. “Nova is in more danger than she’s ever been. And we need to be ready for whatever comes next.”

“We’ll stop this guy,” Jace assured me, his voice firm with conviction. “One more show, then we have a full week to regroup.”

“One more show,” I agreed, though the words felt hollow. “Let’s just make sure everyone survives it.”

Chapter 27

Ethan

I leaned against the kitchen counter, coffee mug clutched in my hand, watching the extra security personnel I’d hired patrol the grounds of Nova’s estate. Three days since the roadkill incident, and my nerves were still raw. The memory of Mel’s face when I’d broken down that dressing room door haunted me—pale, terrified, her eyes wide with shock.

We’d gotten through the final show before the break somehow. I’d insisted on personally checking every single person who came within fifty feet of Nova, regardless of how long they’d worked with her. No one got backstage without my direct approval. It had been exhausting but necessary.

Now, with Nova’s house locked down tighter than Fort Knox, I should have felt some relief. But I didn’t.

Because of Mel.

I hadn’t seen much of her in the last three days, but what I had seen worried me. She moved through the house like a ghost—jumpy at small noises, her usual sharp focus completelyabsent. The incident with the package had broken something in her, and watching her struggle made something twist painfully in my chest.

After discussing the situation with the team, we’d decided to keep what had happened between just us and Mel. Letting Nova and her entourage know that there had been a stranger in their circle would have caused untold panic. Instead, my team had implemented a plan of personally inspecting any note, package, delivery, or fucking singing telegram that got anywhere near Nova. The official story about Clark was a mugging gone wrong—even Clark didn’t know more than that.

We’d told Nova there had been another security incident but hadn’t provided any details. Not surprisingly, she hadn’t asked for them since it hadn’t seemed to directly affect her.

I checked my watch. Six in the morning. Most of the house was still asleep, including Nova, which gave me some time to think. To plan.

“You’re up early.”

I turned to find Logan in the doorway, fully dressed and alert as always.

“Couldn’t sleep.” I took a sip of coffee. No point lying to him—he knew me too well.

Logan grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured himself some coffee. “You look like hell.”

“Thanks.”

“Not a compliment.” He joined me at the counter, following my gaze to the window. “So when are you going to do something about it?”

I frowned. “About what?”

“Mel.” Logan’s bluntness had always been both his best and most annoying quality. “She’s struggling. She needs to get out of here, away from all this for a few days.”