Page 29 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

I blew out a breath as he left and hugged my arms around my body, feeling cold and in shock, my anxiety deepening as I took in every horrible, destructive detail in the room. I could feel the anger behind the vandalism, and that was more than a little disturbing.

Who could do this hateful thing?

That question was still running around my head when the men returned to the living room.

"Andrew told me that quite a few people had keys to the suite today," Martin said. "I've asked the front desk clerk to bring you a key to another suite. She should be here any—" He paused as a knock came at the door. "That's probably her." He opened the door to a young woman in her twenties, whom I'd met earlier. "Gabby, thanks for coming so quickly."

"Oh, wow." Gabby's eyes widened when she saw the condition of the suite. "This is bad."

"Yes," Martin said crisply. "Which is why we need to move Mr. and Mrs. Chadwick into another suite."

"I have the key for one of our executive suites upstairs. We only had one room ready to go. I hope it will work." She handed Andrew two keycards.

"I'm sure the room will be fine," Andrew said.

"Greg is going to come up and help you with your luggage," Gabby added. "What else can we do? Do you want any food, snacks, or chocolates sent up?"

I shook my head at her question. "No food, but I'd love some bottled water."

"The fridge in the suite is stocked with non-alcoholic drinks," she replied.

"Do you two need any more help?" Martin asked. "If not, I'll start investigating what happened here."

"Please do," Andrew said. "We'll grab our things and head upstairs."

"If you have any further issues, please call me personally," Martin added. "You have my card. Otherwise, we'll touch base in the morning. Good night."

"Good night," I muttered as Martin and Ethan left.

Andrew turned to me. "I don’t have anything to move. My suitcases are in the villa I stayed in last night. I was going to get them tomorrow." He gave me a somewhat sad smile. "I wasn't thinking I needed my clothes tonight."

I tried to smile but I fell short, and I didn't have the energy to try again. Instead, I said, "My bags were unpacked earlier. Everything is in the closet."

"I'll help you pack and then we can get out of here."

I wished I could just walk out the door, but I didn't want to leave my things here, not knowing if whoever had the key might come back, although that was unlikely. They'd done what they wanted to do. And if they had wanted to steal something, that would have already happened. Not that I had much to steal. I was wearing the ring my mother had given me, and the necklace Paula had loaned me for the wedding was still around my neck. Those were the only pieces of jewelry worth stealing.

But this hadn't been about theft. I just didn't know what the true motive was.

It took us about fifteen minutes to pack. While we were gathering my clothes together, I changed out of my dress and heels into leggings, a sweater, and sneakers. It wasn't the sexy lingerie I'd bought for my wedding night, but I felt more like myself again.

Andrew tried to lighten the mood with a few dark jokes, but I couldn't drum up a laugh, so he stopped trying. When we were done packing, the bellman helped us take my bags up to the new suite, which was on the floor above us and in a different wing.

It was also a lovely one-bedroom, but far more neutral and minimalistic in décor. Definitely not the romantic, dreamy decadent luxury of the bridal suite, but it was clean, and everything was in its place, which eased my stress.

After the bellman left, I hung my wedding dress in the closet, put the necklace Paula had lent me back in its velvet box, and placed it in the drawer next to the bed. I'd return that to her tomorrow.

"So," Andrew said as he came around the bed and put his hands on my waist. "Should we start over?"

"Where would that be?" I asked with a heavy sigh.

"How about when I picked you up and carried you over the threshold? We could do it again."

I shook my head. "I don't think so, Andrew."

"We can salvage tonight, Lauren. We just have to try."

"You mean I have to try."

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