Page 4 of Duty Unbound

I turned my flashlight onto the countertop, heart pounding. A little white card was attached to the dead roses. I snatched it up, flipping it open. The handwriting was small, neat, and chilling.

End your career so someone doesn’t have to end it for you.

My stomach twisted. This was similar to some other threats Nova had gotten, which we hadn’t taken seriously since they were all via text.

There was a second card attached to the single red rose.

Don’t worry, there’s nowhere you can go that I can’t reach you.

I shoved the cards toward her. “Still think it’s romantic?”

Nova skimmed the notes, lips pursing. “It’s dark. But like, in a cool way—metaphorical death, you know?”

I let out a harsh breath, gripping the countertop so hard my knuckles turned white. “Nova, this isn’t a fan letter. This is a threat.”

She rolled her eyes, setting her phone down to reach for the roses, but I stopped her. “Don’t touch anything until the police get here.”

She let out a sigh but left the flowers alone. She turned so she could take a selfie with them. “People say creepy stuff all the time online. You wouldn’t believe my DMs.”

“This isn’t a DM. This is our kitchen.” I gestured around us. “Our home, Nova. Someone was in here while we were upstairs.”

Heavy footsteps on the front porch interrupted us. The door opened, and Ron burst in, flashlight bobbing wildly, his weathered face tight with concern. Despite being well into his sixties, he moved with surprising speed, his security jacket hastily thrown over what looked like pajamas.

“What’s going on?” he demanded, eyes darting around the foyer. “You two all right?”

“We’re fine, Ron,” I said, crossing to meet him. “Whoever broke in is gone, I think. But they left roses and threatening notes.”

Ron moved past me, sweeping his flashlight around the living room before heading to the kitchen. “Miss Nova,” he greeted her with a nod. “You hurt?”

“I’m fine, Ronnie,” Nova replied with a flutter of her fingers. “Mel’s just overreacting.”

Ron’s bushy eyebrows drew together as he read the note I handed him. “This ain’t good. I’ll go check the breaker again.” He moved to the side door, examining the lock, then disappeared down the hall toward the utility room.

A moment later, the lights flickered back on. The sudden brightness felt jarring, the humming of appliances kicking back to life breaking the eerie silence that had settled over the house. But it didn’t make me feel any better. The damage was already done.

Ron returned, wiping his hands on his pants. “Main circuit breaker was switched off. Affected everything. I’m calling the police. Then I’m doing a full sweep of the grounds.”

Nova frowned at that, finally hesitating. I could almost see the gears turning, but before I could press the point, her face brightened again. “Wait. Should I live stream this?”

I gaped at her. “Are you insane?”

She grabbed her phone. “No, listen. If this is a real stalkersituation, going live could help me control the narrative. Imagine the engagement?—”

I shook my head. “Go get dressed. Now.”

Nova pouted. “You’re being so dramatic.”

I turned away before I said something I’d regret, my pulse still hammering. Nova could be upset all she wanted, but this was serious. Someone had gotten past the security gate, into the house, and left a threat right in our kitchen.

It could’ve been much, much worse. How Nova couldn’t see that I had no idea.

Ron was already on the phone with the police, his voice low and urgent. At least someone was taking this seriously.

I’d barely gotten my heart rate anywhere near under control before the police arrived.

I opened the door, letting in two men. One was a uniformed officer, young and immediately starstruck as he took in the surroundings, obviously having heard this was Nova Rivers’s place. The other, a plainclothes detective with salt-and-pepper hair and shrewd eyes that missed nothing as they swept over the pristine luxury of Nova’s estate.

“I’m Detective Corey Hollis,” the older man said, flashing his badge. “Dallas PD. This is Officer Jensen. We got a call about an intruder?”

---