Page 51 of Bennett

“Nope.”

A beat passed.

“And you’re not sleeping in the apartment next door, are you?”

His lips twitched. “Nope.”

“Figured.”

He lifted a hand to brush a stray strand of hair off her face. “I’ll call Gabe. He’ll want a forensics team out here as soon as possible.”

Laurel nodded, her jaw set. “Good. Then maybe we’ll finally get a damn fingerprint.”

Bennett watched her a moment longer, a strange mixture of pride and protectiveness wrapping tightly around his chest. This wasn’t just about a renovation, it was about standing her ground. And damn if he didn’t admire the hell out of her for it.

He just wished she wasn’t such a tempting target.

Because whoever threw that makeshift projectile? They weren’t finished.

And the next warning might not come through a window.

Chapter Eleven

At the sound of boots hitting the steps outside the apartment, Bennett checked the security feed on the tablet Carter had left, then moved toward the door before anyone knocked. Mac entered first, his gaze sharp as ever, taking in the shattered window, the broken glass glinting on the floor, and the heavy chunk of mortar still sitting like a threat in the center of the chaos. Matthew followed a step behind, his eyes scanning the scene with grim focus.

“SITREP,” Mac said, his voice low but direct.

Bennett gestured to the window. “Mortar thrown through the glass, embedded with the broken lock Carter pulled off the back door earlier this week.”

Matthew let out a low whistle. “That’s a hell of a message.”

“They didn’t leave a note,” Bennett said. “But they didn’t need to.”

Laurel stood in the kitchen, arms crossed and gaze steady. She hadn’t said a word since he’d stepped away to greet the others. The water bottle in her hand trembled slightly.

Mac knelt to study the debris. “Someone trying to get cute?”

“Someone trying to get bold,” Bennett corrected. “They timed it. Waited until the apartment was nearly empty, then threw it.”

Matthew gave a dry chuckle, though his eyes were still on the glass. “Always right before something gets good.”

Bennett shot him a look but said nothing. He wasn’t about to unpack the inferences of that statement in front of Laurel.

Mac stood and dusted his hands together. “Sinjin said Annie is fine, no activity there. And Hunter is outside checking thealley. He’s been on foot since Carter called. If there’s anything to track, he will.”

Good. If anyone could pick up a trail in the dark, it was Hunter. Out of all the Delta operators, Hunter could track a shadow through a thunderstorm.

A new knock sounded before the door creaked open. Gabe stepped in, his expression tight as he swept a glance across the room. His eyes settled on the broken window before shifting to Bennett.

“Everybody all right?”

“We’re good,” Bennett said. “Laurel’s a little shaken but unhurt.”

She nodded. “And pissed.”

He hid a smile.That’s my girl.

Before the implications of that thought could take root, Gabe called him over to where he crouched beside the mortar chunk. His fingers didn’t touch it, but hovered over the embedded metal, his brow furrowed.

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