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His buddies converged on Foster’s location, scanning the room one last time before relaxing slightly. Not enough they wouldn’t respond to any sudden threat, but a few notches down from their DEFCON 1 state when they’d entered.

Zain arched a brow. “Everyone okay?”

Foster glanced back at Mackenzie. “Why don’t you tell them what you saw.”

She pursed her lips then repeated the story — a man with NVGs standing in the doorway. At least one more outside the window.

Zain frowned. “So, what are we thinking? Tech savvy burglars or something more sinister?”

Foster shrugged. “Hard to say, though the fact they were wearing NVGs is a bit… concerning. And with all this rain, any footprints or other evidence will be long gone by morning.”

Zain nodded, still scanning the shadows.

“Okay. Time to cut through the bullshit. We’ve all mentioned how we’ve come home a few times over the past six weeks and felt as if objects had been moved slightly.

Nothing taken and nothing overt but…” Zain motioned to Kash.

“Kash’s mug incident with the handle facing the wrong way or my photo that was turned to name a couple.

And we keep blaming each other for pulling a prank but the buck stops here.

Beckett? You’re our prime suspect and let’s face it.

It’s the kind of crap you like to pull, so, have you been jerking us around or… ”

Foster palmed his face, shaking his head. “I told you it wasn’t me.”

“You also said you weren’t the one who’d wired all our headsets to blast Baby Shark every day for a week in Kandahar.”

“And you claimed it wasn’t you who put those Whip snakes in our sleeping bags in Serbia.” Chase crossed his arms. “You know I hate snakes.”

“Let’s not forget about when we came back from the mess hall, and someone had nailed everything inside our tent to the floor.” Kash arched a brow. “We know for sure it wasn’t Zain, now.”

Zain groaned. “I’m really not that bad with tools. And we also haven’t missed how it all abruptly stopped as soon as we called you on it. Until now.”

Foster sighed. “Fine. I’ll admit. The headsets and the creative use of nails was me, but Sean put the snakes in everyone’s sleeping bags, including his.

Bastard excluded me because he knew you’d jump to conclusions.

But I get your point. Except where I’m telling you I haven’t been messing with you, and I haven’t been moving stuff around. ”

Zain muttered under his breath. “Well, crap. You know I hate getting caught with my junk hanging out and I feel like I’m giving everyone a real good show right now. Though, it doesn’t really make any sense. Who breaks in and only moves a mug or a photo around?”

Foster sighed. “I don’t know but we definitely need to find out.”

Mac moved out from behind him, giving him a guarded smile as she blew out a rough breath. “I should have noticed the guy sooner. Maybe I could have gotten a photo of him or watched to see if he jumped into a car — written down the license plate.”

She coughed. “And while I’m not proud of how I reacted, for a split second, I honestly thought it was a monster. Or maybe a ghost. Something other than a creep wearing goggles.”

Foster gave her shoulder a nudge. “We’ve all been caught by surprise and it’s definitely not something you’d expect to see. Besides, you should hear Zain during a horror movie. It’s tragic.”

Zain rolled his eyes. “Shut up. I don’t scream that much.”

Chase gave Zain a slight shove. “Brother, you sound like Kash does when he sees a spider.”

Kash gave Chase a much firmer shove, shaking his head in mock frustration. “I won’t apologize for that. Spiders are just wrong.”

Zain shrugged as he leaned against the counter. “Well, whoever it was is gone. But, we’ll take turns patrolling, just to be safe. And I’m definitely upgrading your security.”

He held up his hand, cutting Foster off before he could interrupt. “I know. I can’t mess with the charm of the place, but they obviously bypassed the exterior alarms, so if nothing else, they need to be replaced.”

Foster snorted. “You’ll do it whether I approve or not so…” He cupped Mac’s elbow. “Not that we have any proof these creeps were targeting you or me, I think it would be wise if you stayed until morning. Just to be safe. Besides, Atticus would have my ass if you got hurt on my watch.”

Mackenzie cocked her head to the side. “I didn’t realize staying here implied it was your watch?”

“We’re ex-military. Anyone under our roof is part of our watch.”

She eyed the door, releasing a weary breath as some of the tension eased from her shoulders. “I suppose it’s the least I can do considering I started all of this.”

“More like you saved me from getting caught with my pants down. If you hadn’t been on your way out…” He didn’t want to think what could have happened if the men had been looking for more than a quick score.

Kash pointed to the door. “Nyx and I will take first watch. She’s way too hyped to settle for a while. I’ll tag Zain in once I’ve worked off some of her energy.”

Zain nodded. “I’ll be ready, brother.”

Mac cleared her throat, meeting each of their gazes.

“I was thinking. I happen to know one of the deputies in town — Greer Hudson. She was an FBI agent for several years before moving out here. I could call her. Maybe have her meet us at the Lighthouse Café later in the week. I could ask her to do some discreet digging to see if there have been any other reports like this. Maybe see if Foster’s parents had any run-ins? ”

Chase arched a brow. “She’d do that? Off the books? Because I’m not sure we want to publicize it just yet. Give away any chance at sourcing this out without everyone in town knowing. No offence, but people spread rumors faster than wildfire around here.”

“I’m pretty sure she’d keep it on the down low.

If I ask nicely. The current sheriff’s a bit of a tool.

Hates anyone looking into closed cases or stuff he thinks isn’t worthy of his time.

But Greer’s good people. And it wouldn’t hurt to at least put it on her radar.

In case this is some sort of ring, and they start targeting other homes. ”

Zain nodded, again. “Sounds like a plan. That should give us time to do a thorough walk through of all our places. See if anything’s actually gone missing, now that we know it hasn’t been Foster being his usual charming self.”

“Then, it’s a date. I’ll call her first thing, and we’ll say Friday after everyone’s off shift?”

“I’ll make sure Foster writes it down.” Chase twirled his finger near the side of his head. “He’s a bit nuts.”

“Jackass.” Foster gave them a once over. “And it’s good to see you haven’t lost your edge yet.”

“Says the guy wearing only pajama pants. Do you seriously sleep in those?”

Foster walked his buddies to the door, nodding his thanks as they headed out.

Kash took off with Nyx, oblivious to the rain still pouring down.

Foster shut the door, checking the locks, twice, before looking at Mackenzie.

Wondering how he’d missed that way her hair tumbled over her shoulders, the thick mass swaying with every subtle movement.

Hints of gold gleaming with every flash of lightning. “You sure you’re okay?”

She sighed, toeing one foot against the old wood floors. “Other than being completely embarrassed for a second time? Great.”

“You’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“Right because I didn’t freeze and scream like a four-year old instead of tackling that asshole to the ground and ripping off those goggles like I’ve been trained to do.”

“Nobody’s perfect. And it doesn’t make you any less of a badass because you didn’t immediately go for the kill shot. But god forbid you come across as human.”

“The Coast Guard didn’t train me to be anything less than lethal.”

“Point noted. And I’ll be sure to stand back and let you take lead, next time.” He smiled. “Besides, it gave me a chance to be a bit less of an asshole.”

“I never thought you were an asshole, Beckett.”

Foster leaned in, getting his mouth even with hers. She inhaled as she dropped her gaze to his lips then back to his eyes. “You know it’s rude to lie to my face this early in our relationship, right?”

God, had he really just used the R word without even hesitating?

Mackenzie didn’t flinch, inching impossibly closer.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Now, how do you feel about putting on a movie and falling asleep on the couch?

Because there’s no way I’m going to get any rest lying in some bed, wondering if every creak and groan is because the house is a hundred years old or because that jerk decided to come back. ”

“I think I can manage that. But behave yourself. I have a reputation to consider.”

She laughed, the easy sound just as mesmerizing as before, then plopped down on the couch, smiling over at him when he sat next to her.

She didn’t talk, just snuggled under the blanket he gave her, falling asleep before he’d done more than flip on the television and dial in some cheesy romantic comedy.

Foster eased back, listening to her snuffle in her sleep, every breath whispering through the air. He had a bad feeling he’d gotten in way over his head, and it had nothing to do with the men who’d infiltrated his home.