Krista's face shuttered."Right.Work always comes first."

Before I could say another word, she turned back to her computer.As I quietly closed the door behind me, it felt like a brick wall standing between us.

Chapter 5

KRISTA

The driver pulled up to my apartment building and stopped the car.I hadn't been home in days, and my duffel bag was running on fumes.All I had left to wear was a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt that smelled faintly of Levi's cologne.I didn't have time to dwell on that particular detail.I needed clean clothes, a fresh notebook, and a moment to breathe without his brooding presence filling the room.

The key turned in the lock with a soft click, and I pushed the door open.The sight that greeted me stopped me cold.

My apartment had been ransacked.

The couch was overturned, cushions slashed to ribbons.My bookshelf had been toppled, its contents scattered across the floor like confetti.My desk was a war zone.Drawers hung open, papers were strewn everywhere, and my computer workstation was gone.

"Oh, hell no," I muttered, stepping gingerly over the wreckage.

My first thought was Levi.Had he sent someone to search my place?But no, even he wasn't that much of a control freak.A pang of guilt hit me for even thinking he was behind this.This was something else.Someone else.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.It was Zane."Krista?Where are you?You were supposed to be back an hour ago."

"Change of plans," I said, crouching to examine the mess."My apartment got broken into.They took everything, my laptop, my files, even my damn toothbrush."

"What?!"Zane's voice shot up an octave."Are you okay?Did you call the cops?"

"I'm fine," I lied, my stomach churning."But this wasn't a random break-in.They were looking for something."

"Levi's case," Zane said grimly."They're coming after you, Kris."

I swallowed hard, my fingers curling into fists."Looks like it."

"You need to get out of there.Now."

"I'm not backing down," I said, my voice sharper than I intended."This just proves we're on the right track.Whoever did this is scared."

"Scared people are dangerous people," Zane shot back."You're not invincible, Kris."

"I'll be fine," I said, cutting him off."I always am."

The line went silent for a moment before Zane sighed."Be careful."

"Always."

I stuffed clean clothes, toiletries, and the photo of me and Mom that I kept on my nightstand into my bag and headed for the door.My hands were steady, but my heart was pounding.Whoever had done this had sent a clear message.They were watching me.

By the time I got back to Levi's mansion, the sun was fully up, casting a golden glow over the sprawling estate.I parked my car and headed inside, my boots clicking against the marble floor.The house was quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner.Levi was nowhere to be seen.

I made my way to the kitchen.The scent of coffee filled the air, and I followed it like a homing beacon.Levi stood by the stove, shirtless, muscles rippling under the morning light as he flipped pancakes.My breath caught in my throat.

"Morning," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos in my head.

He glanced over his shoulder, his blue eyes narrowing."Where have you been?"

"My apartment," I said, leaning against the counter."Someone broke in.They trashed the place."

Levi froze, the spatula hovering mid-air."What?"

"Yeah.They took my computer, my files.Everything."