Chapter 20
Victor
Icheck my watch for what feels like the millionth time tonight. It’s only eight, and my brain won’t shut off until around midnight, so I have too much time on my hands. Maybe since Serenity refuses to allow me to buy her new clothes, I’ll go to her house and grab more.
With that decided, I hop in my SUV and drive the short distance from my hotel to Serenity’s condo.
I climb out of the car and start up her walkway.
Before I walk even two steps, I notice shoe prints in her lawn right along the pathway.
I shake my head. Maybe I’m seeing things considering how late it is.
Turning on my phone’s flashlight, I forge forward and climb the three stairs that lead to her front door. Thank goodness Sully found her house keys for me.
A strong breeze blows, and the front door sways. Wait a minute. This isn’t right.
I step up onto the small landing, and the door is cracked open. As I pause, my phone vibrates, and I jump. My heart pounds so fast it must think I’m a racehorse.
Elias’s name flashes up at me, so I answer.
“Get the fuck away from Serenity’s condo now,” he says, his voice deadly calm.
I grip the phone tighter. “Why? I’m not doing anything—”
“It’s not you,” he says, cutting me off. “Someone was just there.”
Every muscle in my body tenses. I’m thankful Serenity isn’t living here. “Who?”
“I don’t know, but you need to get in your car and lock the door until I can get there.”
Complying, I move to my SUV. I’ve been too careless. I should’ve brought my own security along, but doing that last minute to my employees isn’t how I run things. She paid those scumbags who were after her. The threat should be gone. So, who would be breaking into Serenity’s house?
“I’ll call this into the police. Stay safe.”
Five minutes later, Elias arrives. It has taken all of my control not to go inside and check things out. I might’ve thought I was overreacting, that maybe Serenity left the door open by accident. But Elias confirmed someone did enter the home.
“The police should be here soon,” Elias says as we both climb out of our cars. “I’m not sure how long he was in there. I think I need a new system. It was slow to alert me.”
I nod as I step inside the condo. My company has its own line of security cameras. “I’ll make sure to get one installed.”
Flipping on the light switch, my body starts to tremble. I take in the wreckage of her overturned couch, drawers all emptied and strewn around. Moving to the kitchen, all her dishes and utensils are on the floor. Even the table is on its side. Her windows are shattered.
I bolt out of the kitchen and head toward the stairs.
Shattered picture frames are on the floor and the staircase.
I take the stairs two at a time and turn to the first bedroom.
I assume it’s Summer’s with the cartoon murals on the wall and the little girl bed.
Her closet door is open, and everything that was in there is thrown around on the floor.
Who would do this? I move out of Summer’s room and head to the next bedroom. A queen-sized bed sits in the center of the room. The blankets are thrown on the floor along with an overturned mattress.
I run my fingers through my hair. If Serenity and Summer were here … fuck. Something about the situation is off. It doesn’t appear like they were just looking for something or someone—no. It almost seems like they were in a rage.
Elias enters the bedroom, and I say, “I think we need to watch more of the security footage.”
He nods. “Let’s go to my house. I can pull up the feed.”
Blue lights flash outside, and we go to greet the police officers to tell them what happened. It takes everything within me to remain calm when they say they’ll “look into it.” Other than sending patrols down the street, they say they can’t do much.
So, I’ll have to handle it. From now on, I’ll keep my men stationed here until we figure out what’s happening and who’s angry enough at Serenity to trash her home.
Sending out a quick email to Martha, I ask her to send a cleanup crew to Serenity’s. I’ll find whoever did this to her. I’ll never let anyone hurt her or Summer ever again.
***
Elias and I are sequestered in his tiny but efficient office while Serenity and the girls are still hanging out at Sully’s house. Elias is sitting at his desk, looking between his two monitors. A little fluff ball lays at his feet.
Elias pulls up the feed to Serenity’s condo, and I straighten.
“That man left maybe an hour before you showed up.”
A man in a dark hoodie enters the house, and then Elias fast-forwards to when he exits. He has his hood pulled over his face. All his features are covered. The only traits we can discern are his estimated height and build.
This intruder … He destroyed my wife’s house … Put my wife and step daughter in danger … I can’t let him get away with it again. Who knows when he’ll strike next?
“Wait,” I say as I catch something, hoping it wasn’t a speck of dirt. “Rewind the feed a few seconds.”
Elias does as I request, and I see it again. “Do you see that mark on his wrist when he stretched his arm out?”
He nods once. “But I can’t make out what it is.”
“Can you get a screenshot of this image and send it to me? I have a guy who might be able to discern what it is.”
“Of course.” He clicks a few buttons, and my phone vibrates.
I immediately open the email and send it off to Matt. If anyone can figure it out, it will be him.
Elias stands and heads out to his living room. Since Serenity is still at Sully’s, I’ll head back to my hotel. I won’t be able to sleep after everything—not until it’s all figured out.
“Do you want to stay for a beer?” Elias asks as I’m about to pull on my dress shoes.
I pause. We’re not exactly friends, but I can’t let this opportunity pass by, especially considering I know I won’t get a wink of sleep tonight. Most people who want to spend time with me only want to use my name and influence. But here, in the privacy of his home, I might be able to trust him.
I nod, and he strides into the kitchen, grabbing two beers from his refrigerator. I sit on his sofa and tap my fingers on my legs. When he comes back, he hands me an already opened Dos Equis.
“Are you going to tell Serenity about tonight?” Elias asks as I take a sip of my beer.
I sigh. I don’t want to add to Serenity’s stress, and I don’t have all the information. It will take at least a few days for Matt to have anything for me. “I’m not sure yet.”
He nods and turns on the television. A sporting event pops onto the screen. “I don’t keep things from Harmony, and she’s going to want to tell her sister.”
I shoot him a glare, but his gaze is still on the TV. He pumps his arm into the air, so I assume the team he wants to win just did something good. “Give me a few days so I can find more out.”
Elias turns to look at me. “Have you seen Serenity angry?”
I can’t stop the chuckle that comes out. “On more than one occasion, yes.”
“Then you know you need to tell her ASAP.”
I’ll have to get through the storm she’ll bring down on me.
Why tell her before I know the facts? In business, I don’t enter a meeting without all my research.
This can’t be any different than that. “I’ll tell her when the time is right.
She’s been going through enough. I don’t want to add this to it. ”
He holds my gaze. “Do you remember when you told me not to mess around with Harmony?”
I rub my temple with my free hand. “Yes. Where are you going with this?”
“Don’t fuck around with Serenity.” He turns to fully face me and crosses his bulky arms over his chest. “If you don’t have feelings for her, keep it contract only.
But if you do fall for her, tell her, and love her properly.
After everything she’s gone through, she deserves her happy ending, too.
So, please believe me when I say this. If you don’t tell her about this break-in, she’ll never trust you again. ”
“Fine. I’ll tell her.” I blow out a big breath.
He nods, seeming satisfied with my answer, and turns his attention back to the game.
I don’t want him to think I’m messing around with Serenity. “I told her yesterday that I want a real chance.”
Elias turns his head to look at me again, his dark eyes widening. “Wow. Good for you, man. Now, don’t let her run away just because she’s scared.”
The Serenity I know is the bravest woman I’ve ever met. “Other than the obvious, why is she scared?”
“Wouldn’t you be if the person you loved and trusted the most betrayed you?”
I rear back. Serenity never went into detail about Paul, but that has to be who he’s talking about. “Explain.”
“He’s the reason for the loan sharks. That man was a dumbass for letting Serenity down so badly.”
I press my lips into a flat line. I’m not sure what I thought when I found out about her debt, but I never knew it wasn’t her fault.
I clench my jaw. Serenity has had to go through so much on her own because she trusted the wrong man.
No wonder she’s always been so stubborn and wary of me.
I’ll have to remind her I’m not that kind of man and that she and Summer come first. Always.
For now, I’ll have to dig up everything there is to know about her late husband.
“I promise I’m going to tell her about the break-in,” I say finally.
Paul proved men are lying scumbags, but I’ll never fall into that category. I’ll have to show her I’m a man she can trust. Holding this information from her proves the opposite.