Page 69 of Under an Endless Moon

Dread pooled in my chest when my thoughts immediately went to Tanner.

I blinked to cut the idea off. He wouldn’t. He’d been nothing but kind to me. Well, until he wasn’t.

I didn’t have time to contemplate it any farther before Otto rounded back around the side of the building, his expression grim. “Couldn’t find a damned thing. Let me have your key. I’m going to check to make sure no one has been inside.”

“I’m sure it’s just?—”

He’d leaned down to get in my face, his proximity cutting me off before I could say anything. “Please, just let me check. Won’t take the chance of some fucker hiding out to get at you.”

I swallowed around the thickness in my throat, and I unzipped my bag and pulled out the keys. He already knew the security code, and he disappeared inside.

Frustrated, I undid the buckle on my helmet and pulled it off, while Sienna moved toward me, her brown ponytail falling over her shoulder. When she got close enough, she reached out and squeezed my arm. “God, Raven. I’m so sorry this happened. Who would do this?”

Both our gazes drifted to the window.

Something about it felt…ominous. Like it wasn’t a threat but a harbinger of what was to come.

Apprehension rolled through me, but I swallowed it because no way.

This was ridiculous.

I wasn’t going to let some creep ruin my day.

I forced a tight smile. “I’m sure it was just some punk coming around here being stupid in the middle of the night.”

That’s what it had to be, right?

There was no chance I’d been targeted.

I turned back to Sienna. “Do you know if any other stores were vandalized last night?”

Pete ambled up to Sienna’s side as I asked it. The shake of his head was regretful when he said, “I think it was just yours. I walked around a little and it was the only one I saw, at least.”

Awesome.

Just freaking great.

A tidal wave of volatility ripped through the air when Otto tossed the door open and came thundering back out. “Nothing. Not a fuckin’ trace.”

“It was probably some random kid with his first can of spray paint.” I gave him a version of what I’d given Sienna.

It made the most sense. No one would actually be that stupid to paint this on my store’s window and actually mean it.

Did they have any clue who I was affiliated with?

Otto glowered. “Don’t fuckin’ care who did it. He’s dead. I’m sure the security camera will tell us something.”

Surprise blanched Sienna’s expression, as if she’d felt the violence skating out of the man and she was worried he was actually serious.

I wondered what she’d think if she knew he likelywas.

I giggled like Otto was exaggerating his anger, and I climbed off the bike, voice going soft in an attempt to assuage the situation. “It’s probably not a big deal. I’ll get it cleaned off before anyone even comes in.”

“You can’t be serious? You think you’re going to work today?” Otto’s voice was full of disbelief. Somehow, he appeared even taller than usual as he towered over me. A vibrating hedge of protection and animosity.

I gulped down the intensity. “Um, yes, I am.”

“Yeah, no,” he said as he took a step forward.

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