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caught a guy tampering with Eli’s family SUV in the driveway. Griff detained him, the police were called.” Hunt reached for her hand. “The brake lines were cut.”
    The horror of it gripped her throat as memories of the car sliding out of control, spinning wildly, slamming into the tree and the crunching metal all came back to her.
    “Lyssie.” Hunt wrapped his hands around hers. “Look at me.”
    His command gave her a focus, a way out of her memories. His face, cut harder from years of living a life she couldn’t even fathom, eased her sick fear. “Nate did it. He somehow did this.”
    “Did he know you didn’t drive for a while after the accident?”
    She nodded. Alyssa had told Nate, tried to make him understand how good a friend Maxine was to her. “He would hurt them. Eli and his family have done nothing to him, yet he’d hurt them. What kind of monster does something like that?” And she’d been engaged to him. “Wait, Griff caught the guy?”
    “Yes. Police came, he was arrested, but it’s going to take time to see if we can connect him to Madden, although I doubt it’s going to be easy. Madden clearly isn’t stupid, so I’m sure he’s covered his tracks.” He squeezed her fingers. “The good news is Madden will know that we have Eli protected and he can’t get to him. Griff has an entire team watching the family, including while they sleep.”
    She had to know. “Was Eli scared?”
    “He never woke up and doesn’t know what happened. His parents have told him the guys are following the family around for a special work project his father is working on. According to Griff, Eli accepts that and thinks it’s cool.”
    A painful mix of relief, happiness, and pain so deep it scared her, twisted in her chest. Everything in her wished she could have been strong enough to be the parent Eli had needed, but she hadn’t been, not then. The old grief, the pain she’d refused to let out rose up to choke her. She had the urge to throw herself into Hunt’s arms now, and beg him to hold her. But then she’d break. Not happening. Instead she slipped her hands from his and pulled herself together. “So what do we do now?”
    He eyed her. “Are you okay?”
    “Pissed. Furious. But I’ll be fine.” She would be, she just had to pull herself together. Shutting her laptop, she grabbed her coffee cup and headed around the island to the coffeemaker. There she stared at the carafe. “What do we do next?”
    “Let us investigate. Sienna’s requested the reports on Madden’s mom’s death. She should have those soon. We’ll work to find out who hired the guy arrested this morning.”
    Alyssa nodded, staring at the coffeemaker.
    “But right now—”
    She jumped, the coffee cup clanking on the countertop. He was right behind her. So close, his breath stirred her hair. How did he move so quietly?
    Reaching around her, he shut off the coffeemaker.
    His arm brushed hers, his chest pressing against her back. Solid warmth. She desperately wanted to lean back against him.
    “—we need a break.”
    She recoiled slightly. Looking over her shoulder, she asked, “From each other?”
    “From the stress. We’ve been cooped up here for days. Let’s go have some fun. So far, no one knows you’re here, so it should be safe as long as you do as I say.”
    “Really?” Excitement chased out the thick worry and dread. “Where?”
    “It’s a surprise.” Turning her to face him, he glanced down at her dress, his eyes regretful. “You’ll have to put on more clothes. Jeans and either athletic shoes or boots. I have a jacket and helmet you can use. Bring your camera too.”
    Anticipation buzzed her veins. “You still have your motorcycle?” She used to beg him to take her on his motorcycle. Her mother had said no, though, so Hunt refused, although she’d taken a million pictures of him on it.
    Humor glinted in his light eyes. “I have a different bike than you remember, this one is faster.” He flashed