Holiday in Danger (10 page)

Room by room, he worked through the house. He checked in closets and behind furniture. Under beds and around corners. Anywhere and everywhere a burglar could hide. He came up empty.

Whoever had broken in was long gone but he’d left a message loud and clear. Trent strode back to the entryway and unlocked the front door before turning back to the debris. He crouched on the marble tile as the sound of police sirens wailed in the distance.
About damn time.
He didn’t know what they’d say, or whether they’d take this kind of message seriously or not, but Trent sure as hell did. Someone had been there and they’d made a statement. One Ian needed to see firsthand.

His phone buzzed in his back pocket and he answered on speaker. “Come to the front. The house is clear.”

He shoved his phone back in his pocket as a car pulled up outside. Moments later, Ian pushed open the door and stumbled to a stop. Holly slipped in behind him and her gaze flicked to the smashed bits on the floor.

Trent stood up with a frown. “So Ian. Are you taking this seriously now?”

* * *

HOLLY

Holly’s mouth fell open as she stared at the mess. “What is all that?”

Ian stepped up and toed a chunk of wood. He frowned as he flipped the piece over. “It used to be the sign that hung above my first restaurant.”

Holly looked up and tried to remember where she’d seen it. The light bulb went off. “You mean the piece that was right up there on the wall?” She snorted. “I figured it was some decorator piece.”

Ian crouched. “It wasn’t. I had it commissioned right before I opened the place. A local artist made it out of reclaimed surfboards.” He picked up an oversized splinter and turned it over in his hands. “It was like this when you got here?”

Trent nodded. “Back sliding door was smashed in and this was here. As far as I can tell, this is the only thing disturbed. It doesn’t look like your office was touched.”

Holly couldn’t believe it. No disgruntled customer would break into Ian’s home and smash a bit of nostalgia. They’d have assumed it was some throwaway piece a decorator had hung on the wall and charged three times the price for.

Ian crouched, shoulders hunched as he turned a sliver over in his hand again and again. One look at him and she knew—this was personal. Intimate. Someone close to Ian was hell bent on getting his attention. Whoever it was had definitely gotten hers.

She stepped closer. “This doesn’t look like—”

“I know.” Ian cut her off as he stood up. “Guess you were right to start asking around town, Trent.”

Trent nodded. “It’s beginning to look like someone is out to do more than hurt your business. And that someone is right here in Midnight Cove.”

“Apparently so.”

Ian held himself together, but Holly could see the anger beneath the surface. His shoulders were tight, his jaw worked back and forth, and if he clenched his keys in his hand any harder, they’d probably snap in half.

Trent didn’t look much better. She hadn’t known his face could look so serious. Grim. Holly glanced at his hands and frowned. She hadn’t noticed the towel he held to his forearm before.
Is he hurt?
As she focused on it, a bloom of red tinged the white cotton. “Oh my God, Trent. You’re bleeding.”

“It’s nothing. Just caught my arm on the broken glass.”

As she opened her mouth to protest, the flash of police lights lit up the open entryway. A pair of uniformed officers hustled inside.

The first officer in the door addressed Ian. “Everyone okay here?” He couldn’t have been more than twenty-three. And from the way he held onto his belt and rubbed the webbing back and forth, he hadn’t been called out to many dangerous situations.

Holly glanced at Trent. The man must have had the same thought. He was practically scoffing at the guy.
Thank God he’s here.

Ian interrupted her thoughts and she snapped her gaze back to him. “Yes, Officer.” Ian held out his hand. “Ian Knowles.”

“I know who you are. My mom took me to the Montgomery as a kid. Officer Dawson.”

Ian gave him a tight smile. “Trent secured the place. Whoever did this is gone.”

The officer turned to Trent. “And you would be?”

Trent stepped forward. “Security. Trent Malone.”

The officer looked past Trent to the wreckage. “Looks like some teenagers were out to cause some mischief.”

Holly didn’t miss the look Trent shot Ian’s way. “You think so, huh?”

The officer crossed his arms. “Looks that way to me. You have any better ideas?”

Trent shrugged. “Ian hired me to do some security investigations. He’s been getting some nasty emails about his shipping business.”

The cop frowned and turned to Ian. “You should have come to us, Knowles.”

Trent’s eyes narrowed and Holly sucked in a breath. She’d never seen a man look so lethal. Or pissed off. “It took you half an hour to get here. I don’t blame Ian for not bringing you into the loop.”

The cop started forward, but Ian waved him off. “Let’s not get into a pissing contest. Officer Dawson, I’ll give a statement. You can do your report.” The cop nodded and Ian turned to Holly. “Can you check out his arm? Make sure it doesn’t need stitches?”

Holly nodded.

“Great. Then I’ll see you all in a few.” Ian walked toward the officer and the pair of them headed out the front door to the waiting police cruiser.

Holly turned to Trent. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.”

She stepped closer. “At least let me take a look.”

Trent frowned but pulled back the towel. An angry gash snaked down his arm. “It needs to be cleaned. I can help.”

“I can manage.”

It was her turn to frown. “I know you can manage, but you don’t need to be a hero. Let me help you.”

“Fine. In the kitchen.” He turned on his heel and stalked to the hall.

Wow
. Trent was one seriously pissed-off man. Anger rolled off him in waves and as he brushed by her, she fought the urge to step back.

Was he furious because someone broke in? Because he didn’t catch the guy? Holly had no clue. But she was going to find out. No more secrets. No more half-truths. Between the car accident and this…display…Ian was caught up in way more than a spat with a customer.

Holly glanced back at the busted-up sign. It’d been beaten to a pulp. Smashed and ripped apart and left for Ian to find. No one did that over misplaced shipments. She swallowed and turned to follow Trent down the hall.

Maybe he’d give her some answers. It was about time somebody did.

* * *

TRENT

Holly swabbed at the cut on his arm and Trent stiffened. He should be out talking to the police and Ian. Not standing in the kitchen letting Holly patch him up. But he couldn’t seem to pull himself away.

“So are you going to tell me what the hell is really going on? Or are you both still going to keep me in the dark?”

He snapped his head up and even though she tried to hide it, he caught the flicker in her eyes. She still wanted him. He knew the timing was shit. That he should be working the case and pinning Ian to the wall until he gave him something to go on. But Holly was a foot away, holding his arm like it was something precious.

He wanted her body beneath him instead of this case, but he tried to play it cool. “The only one hiding anything around here is Ian. I know as much as you, babe.”

“I’m not your babe.”

Trent smirked. “You could be.”

Her lips fell open, but she covered in an instant. “Don’t distract me. What do you mean, Ian’s the only one who knows? He hired you for security, you should have this all figured out.”

Right
. “Ian hired me to identify who was sending the e-mails. From everything he showed me, they appeared to be from an angry customer, not some looney out to wreak havoc.”

“And now?”

Trent frowned. “Now I think we’ve got a much bigger problem. I don’t even know if they’re related. But—”

“There’s someone here who’s out to get Ian.”

“Or people close to him.”

Holly’s hand paused on Trent’s arm. “Like me.”

Trent nodded. “You. Me. His sister if she were here. Anyone could be a target. Until we find out who’s behind it, no one’s safe.”

Holly shivered and Trent reached out with his good arm. “Don’t worry. I can protect you.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“What if next time it’s not your car? What if it’s worse?”

Holly went back to cleaning his arm. “You can’t watch me twenty-four seven.”

She was right. He couldn’t. But he could damn well try. Trent had dealt with way worse than some crazy person with a grudge. They weren’t halfway around the world trapped in the middle of a drug war. Or on a ship in the Pacific a thousand miles from anywhere.

They were in a damn billionaire’s playground with Ian’s unlimited resources. This was easy. He waited until Holly finished with his arm and caught her eye. “We’ll find who did this. And we’ll stop them.”

She nodded, but it wasn’t with confidence. It hit him somewhere deep. Back when they were kids, he’d tried to look out for her. Hanging out after school. Keeping her out of trouble. He knew she’d had a rough go at home. She shouldn’t have to worry now. He softened. “What’s on your mind?”

“It’s nothing.”

“If you work that lip of yours anymore, you’ll draw blood. Talk to me, Holly. You can trust me.”

She packed up the first aid supplies and crossed her arms. “Ian doesn’t seem to be taking this seriously.”

Trent paused. A few hours ago, he’d have agreed. But watching him as he stared at the wreckage in his own home, Trent saw something different. Something more.

He cleared his throat. “Do you remember when your dad told you about the divorce?”

Holly focused on his arm. “Of course.”

“I found you out on the beach. You were standing in the surf, shoes still on, just letting the water rush up your legs.”

Holly nodded.

“It was freezing. What was it, November? By the time I pulled you back, your lips were blue.”

“I couldn’t feel it. I couldn’t feel anything.”

Trent nodded. “I think that’s what Ian’s going through right now. He’s in shock.” He stood up and pushed the stool beneath the counter. What Trent would give to make all of this go away and turn this into the vacation Ian had planned. Then he could take his time and get to know Holiday all over again.

Instead, they were left with bits and pieces.

She huffed and hugged herself. “I hate this.”

“Me too.” He stepped closer and brushed a lock of hair off her face.
So damn beautiful.
“You sure you’re okay?”

Holly let out a trapped breath and nodded. “I am.” As she said it, her eyes lit up. “Are you hungry?”

Trent blinked. “What?”

“Are you hungry? Whenever I’m stressed, I cook. How about I make dinner? The cops have to leave eventually. The three of us can eat and talk. Forget all about this for a few hours.”

“I don’t think—”

She reached out and touched his lips. “That’s just it. How about we don’t think for a while?”

HOLLY

H
OLLY
WHISKED
THE
Alfredo and checked on the pasta.
Almost done
. This had been the best idea she’d had in forever. Good food made everything better.

She turned off the burner, set the sauce to the side, and grabbed the pasta pot. The steam billowed in front of her face and she dumped the starchy goodness into the waiting colander. As she poured the pasta into a bowl, Trent appeared carrying an armful of bottles.

“I have no idea what most of these are, but I’m pretty sure they’re wine.”

Holly laughed. “I take it Ian’s cellar is a bit crowded?”

“It’s like a wine emporium. If the world ever ends, I know where I’m coming first. We could drink ourselves through the apocalypse and still have plenty left over.” He set the bottles on the counter and took a deep breath. “That smells delicious.”

“I hope so. Can you find plates? We should eat while it’s hot.”

Trent made his way to the dish cabinets and rummaged through them while Holly tossed the pasta. She grabbed the salad she’d already made and the steaming pasta bowl, and headed to the breakfast table.

“It smells like you’ve been busy. Please tell me there’s alcohol involved.” Ian breezed in through the doorway and Holly smiled.

“Trent pilfered your wine cellar. According to him, you have quite the collection.”

Ian snorted. “Trent wouldn’t know a good bottle of wine if I bashed him over the head with it.”

“I’d argue, but that’s pretty much true.” Trent carried a stack of plates to the table with a grin. “How’d the police interview go? Officer Boy Scout have any ideas?”

Ian rubbed his face. “Besides telling me to get the door fixed right away? No. But they’re going to stand guard all night. There are two cruisers outside.”

Holly had been so absorbed in cooking, the vandalism had faded in her mind. “I forgot about the sliding glass door. What are you going to do?”

Ian smiled. “What any rich guy in Midnight Cove would do. Pay to have it fixed. A new one should be here any minute.”