Page 18 of Hearts on the Line (The Maverick Key #1)

Scott

A loud sound jolts me awake from a restless sleep. It takes a moment to clear the fog from my head and figure out the source of the noise. My cell phone. I reach for it on the nightstand and force my eyes open. Hannah’s name glows on the screen.

A tight knot of dread grips my stomach. I bolt upright.

“You need to get over here right now. Someone broke into Maddie’s cottage and attacked her.”

The room spins as adrenaline surges through me. “What? Is she all right?” I’m already out of bed, grabbing last night’s clothes from the floor.

“She’s shaken up pretty bad, but she’s safe. She wants you.”

“I’m on my way.”

The phone falls onto the bed as I slip on my jeans and boots and grab my keys and jacket.

My truck’s engine roars to life, and I’m on the road before I even register if I’ve closed the door.

The dark, empty streets of Maverick Key blur beneath the glare of my headlights.

Who would do this? And why? The thought of Maddie, alone and scared, makes me tighten my grip on the wheel until my knuckles ache.

I pull up to her cottage and jump out. Maddie sits on the steps, a blanket draped over her shoulders.

She’s so small. Her pale face stares at the ground.

Wes sits beside her, his arm resting across her shoulders, while Hannah paces nearby, talking into her phone, her movements restless.

Ding is curled up beside Maddie, his head resting on her lap.

She lifts her head, meeting my eyes.

Wes gets up and steps aside, giving us room. I crouch in front of her, scanning her for signs of injury. “Are you hurt, sweetheart?”

She grips the edge of the blanket. “No, I’m okay. Just… scared.”

Wes and Hannah fill me in on what happened to Maddie. Thankfully, no one touched her.

Relief washes over me—overshadowed by the tightening tension in my stomach. “The important thing is that you’re safe,” I murmur, brushing my hand over her knee before withdrawing it. “We’ll figure this out.”

Inside the cottage, it’s a war zone.

“Whoever did this didn’t care who heard them. I’m surprised the noise didn’t wake up the whole inn,” Wes mutters, his jaw tight as he surveys the destruction.

I turn to Maddie, my stomach in knots at the thought of her walking into this chaos—of someone tailing her home.

“Do you know what they were looking for?”

Her fingers tighten around the blanket. When she speaks, her voice wavers.

“Nathan’s research. All his notes are gone.”

I step closer, my brow furrowing. “Are you sure they took everything?”

“Yes.”

I swear under my breath, my fists clenching at my sides. “This wasn’t random. Whoever did this knew what they were after.”

The four of us sift through the wreckage, but it’s clear the intruder wasn’t interested in any valuables. Maddie stays close to Hannah, her movements stiff.

“Is there anything else missing?” I crouch near the overturned desk. “Anything other than the rock and his notes?”

“No. I’ve been reviewing his notes and was about to decrypt the coded ones,” she sniffles. “Now they’re all gone.”

Wes exhales. “If someone’s willing to tear this place apart to get to Nathan’s notes… there must be something valuable down there.”

“Or they might be trying to hide something,” I retort, meeting his gaze. “Covering something up.”

The tension between Wes and me is palpable, but Maddie’s soft voice cuts through it.

“It doesn’t matter why they did it.” Her hands tremble. “They won’t stop me. I’m going to figure out what Nathan was searching for and finish his work.”

I stand, meeting her determined gaze. There’s fire there, stronger than her fear, and it fills my chest with pride and worry.

“You won’t do it alone. We’ll figure this out. Together.”

We’ve done all we can for the night, but one thing is clear. The intruder followed her home for a reason. He wasn’t just here to steal. He wanted to get to Maddie. My gut tells me he planned to harm her. Fuck.

“Hannah.” I turn to her. “Can Maddie stay with you? I don’t want her to be alone tonight.”

“You bet she is,” Hannah replies right away, stepping closer to Maddie like a protective shield.

Wes straightens. “I’ll keep an eye out here at the inn. If anything comes up, I’ll call.” He’s worried. It’s a new look for him. I give him a curt nod, but my attention remains on Maddie. She’s still scared, but she trusts us. She trusts me to keep her safe. That’s why she asked for me.

“We’ll find out who did this, sweetheart,” I promise, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. I straighten the elephant pendant that’s been slung around her neck, putting it back in place. “And we’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

I press a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“Thank you.” She pulls back her shoulders, dismissing her fears, and lets me help her stand.

We all help clean up the cottage and ensure it’s secure for the night. I make calls to a few guys I know to have them install window locks and security film tomorrow. As I prepare to leave, I take one last look at Maddie while she and Hannah pack her overnight bag. “Get some rest tonight.”

Outside, the events of the night weigh on me. Whoever broke into Maddie’s cottage is sending a message. This reeks of someone trying to cover their tracks. Nathan must have been in over his head. Did they find what they were looking for, and what else do they want from Maddie?

My jaw tightens as I scan the shadows, clenching my fists.

They might think they can scare her off.

But they don’t know her.

And they don’t know me.