Page 15

The midmorning sun was bright in Sheila and Clinton’s garden where Weston knelt. Weeding was normally his favorite way to pass the time and think, but the rumble of Chance’s truck pulling into their parents’ driveway told him he was about to be interrupted. He met Chance halfway to the house, brushing the soil from his hands as he went.

“Where’s Kayleigh?” Chance asked as the two went inside. Weston steered them to the kitchen to get Chance a cup of coffee. Between a night of peaceful sleep and the coffee he’d already had, Weston felt more energetic than since he and Kayleigh had left the lake house. But Chance had obviously been up all night on guard duty.

“She’s asleep,” Weston said, sliding the cup across the counter. “She’s had a rough few days and I didn’t feel right waking her. To be honest, I’m just glad she’s sleeping at all.”

Chance took a sip, nodding. “She’s handling things better than I expected. She’s strong, Weston. She’ll get through this.”

Weston agreed wholeheartedly, but he knew firsthand how pain like losing a parent lingered. He didn’t want that for Kayleigh, not anytime soon. “How are things on your end?”

“Leo’s stable—no change. Luke’s watching him now.” Chance looked like he wanted to say more but stopped.

“What is it?”

“Something is odd at the hospital. I’m not sure exactly what it is, but it’s just not normal.”

Weston sat straighter. He trusted his brother’s instincts. “You think Leo is in danger?”

“Not necessarily. It’s just how Dr. Appleton and some of the staff is acting that’s got me on edge.”

Weston ran a hand over his head. This wasn’t what he wanted to hear. It was bad enough suspecting people in Leo’s direct employment of sharing secrets and putting the Delacruzes at risk, but if there was a nurse or doctor taking bribes, they were going to have a bigger problem.

“What have you noticed?”

Chance put his cup down. “I was there for my shift yesterday and the nurses barely checked on him. I mean, I know he’s in the private section and the hospital staff have been informed of possible danger to him, but it doesn’t feel right. Shouldn’t they need to check his vitals more or something?”

Weston sighed and got up to pour himself another cup of coffee. Looked like he was going to need it. “Maybe there’s nothing they can do but wait. They have him monitored.”

Chance shrugged. “Maybe. I hope so.”

“Have Maci do a background check on anyone at the hospital coming in contact with Leo. Make sure anyone guarding the door is keeping an eye out for out-of-place stuff. In the meantime, what does the doctor say about his condition?”

“No change.”

“Anybody harassing the team about being there?”

“None. They’ve been working with us easily enough. Much better than Jasper and his misfits.”

Weston took a sip of his coffee. “At least we don’t have to worry about him anymore. Where are we on suspects?”

“Oliver Lyle is still the one who seems to have the most to lose and is most likely to use violent means—” He cut himself off at the squeak of someone on the stairs.

A moment later, Kayleigh appeared, dressed and ready to go for the day. She still had dark circles under her eyes, but definitely looked better than she had.

“Morning,” she said, looking between the brothers as she made herself a cup of coffee. “Any news on my father?”

“He’s still holding stable. No real change,” Chance said. “Let me go say hello to Mom and Dad.”

He obviously didn’t want to continue the info about Oliver Lyle in front of Kayleigh. But that wasn’t going to work. Weston had too much respect for her to treat her with kid gloves.

“Continue about Lyle first. Kayleigh is involved, no matter what, and I’m not keeping her in the dark when it comes to her own safety.”

The smile she shot him was appreciative and he held out a hand to her to pull her close.

“Basically, we confirmed everything we’d heard about him before. Not only does he have a ton to lose if the merger goes through, but he’s more than willing to get violent to get what he wants. We tried to put eyes on him, but no one’s seen him for three weeks.”

“This Lyle guy is who you think is behind it?” Kayleigh asked.

“He has the most to lose,” Weston said.

Chance leaned back against the counter. “Just because he’s willing to use force doesn’t mean he’s responsible for anything that has happened. But something very interesting did show up when we dug a little further. Luke just contacted me with the info on my way over here, so I let him know I’d tell you.”

Weston’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that?”

“Jasper was employed by Oliver Lyle about ten years ago.”

Kayleigh’s eyes got big. “Oh my gosh.”

Chance nodded. “It was only for a few weeks, but there is definitely a connection there.”

“Does this mean Jasper is the inside man you were talking about?” Kayleigh asked.

Weston crossed his arms at his chest. “This definitely makes it more likely. But we’ll need more proof in order for anything to hold up in court.”

“So, we find proof?” she asked. “How do we do that?”

“For now, we’ll do some research and find out more about his connection to Lyle,” Weston responded. “We can also—”

Chance’s phone rang, cutting Weston off. Chance grabbed it, only to stare at the screen.

“Chance?”

“It’s Maci.”

“Who’s Maci?”

“Our office manager,” Weston told her. “Are you going to answer?”

“I’m not sure why she’s video calling me. She’s supposed to be at Kayleigh’s house picking up clothes.”

“Maybe she has a question. Whatever it is, Maci wouldn’t call you if it wasn’t important. Answer it,” Weston said.

Chance seemed to shake himself off and swiped for the video call. As soon as he saw her, he straightened, his eyes sharp on the screen. “Maci, what happened?”

“I went to Kayleigh’s house, like you said, but it looks like someone broke in. Ransacked it.”

Weston’s stomach dropped and he looked over in time to see Kayleigh’s face turn pale. Yet another blow.

“Where are you? Are you safe?”

“I’m still at the house.”

Chance’s knuckles whitened around the phone. “Get out and get someplace safe. You don’t know if someone’s still there or not. Go out to the car and—”

“There’s nobody here. I’m safe where I am.”

Chance stared at the ceiling as if it had all the answers to his frustrations. It was enough to make Weston nearly laugh, but he was just as worried.

“Maci,” he cut in, “it’s Weston. We know you can handle yourself, but we would all feel better if you were somewhere safe. At least until we got there.”

“I’m telling you, I’m fine.”

Chance’s jaw ticked as he ground his teeth together and Weston knew that his patience was officially spent.

“Maci, this isn’t up for discussion. Get out of the house and—” He stopped, the silence almost startling after his raised voice. “She hung up on me.”

“We need to get over there,” Weston said.

Chance was already heading for the door. “Are all women this stubborn? Why does she refuse to listen to a single thing I say to her? It’s not as if security is my job, right? How could I possibly know what I’m talking about when it comes to keeping her safe? No, the pint-sized pixie knows everything about everything. I’m just the Neanderthal who refuses to use fire.”

Kayleigh and Weston watched as he talked his way out the door.

“I’ll meet you there!” Weston called. He wasn’t sure if his brother had stopped talking to himself long enough to hear.

“Is he always that protective?” Kayleigh asked.

Weston laughed. “He’s protective but usually pretty reasonable. Those two get on each other’s last nerve.”

Her eyes filled with laughter. It was a good look on her, one he wouldn’t mind seeing more often. “Really?”

“Oh yeah. It’s nearly a duel at dawn every time they get into an argument. We have to have a mediator on hand when they’re both in the office or things start flying.”

Her smile got a little bigger. “Sounds like it’s a love language.”

He cracked his own smile. “You’re probably right. But right now, Chance and I need to get over there. I’m sure the house is empty, but it still could be dangerous for her.”

“I want to come with you.”

Weston’s head was shaking before his mind even comprehended the question. “I know, but you can’t. We don’t know if this is a trap to lure you out of hiding or an ambush. We don’t even know if this is a distraction to keep us away from the hospital. I’m not going to risk you with so much uncertainty.”

“So, what am I supposed to do while you check it out?”

“Stay here with Mom and Dad. I can video call you when we have a better understanding of what happened.”

She was about to argue more. He leaned his forehead against hers. “It’s not that I don’t want you there, it’s just too dangerous. We have no idea what might be waiting there. It would mean a lot if you stayed here while we are gone.”

Kayleigh looked at the floor and Weston could see her hesitation. She didn’t want to stay behind and she didn’t feel safe on her own, but what else was there to do?

If they were trying to lure her out, he and Chance might not be enough to stop a kidnapping attempt. If it was a distraction to help an attack on the hospital, she’d be safer where they couldn’t find her.

But it had to be her choice.

Finally, she let out a sigh. “Okay. I’ll stay if you promise to video call as soon as you can.”

Weston sighed, relief flooding his veins as he pulled her into a quick hug. “I promise. You’ll even be able to tell us if something in particular is missing.”

Kayleigh nodded, hugging him back.

“We won’t be gone long, okay? You’re safe with my parents, I promise.”

He kissed her softly, wishing he could do more. Wishing he could stay with her.

And hoping that this break-in would give them some sort of clue as to what was going on.