Page 14 of Melt My Heart: Denver Warlords

With trembling fingers, I unlocked my apartment, checking each room before allowing myself to breathe. Everything appeared untouched—my minimalist furniture arranged precisely as I'd left it, kitchen counters immaculate, bedroom undisturbed.

I sank onto my sofa, note clutched in my hand. This wasn't random. Someone was targeting me specifically, escalating from minor annoyances to potentially dangerous sabotage. Thetiming—right before my competition and the charity event—couldn't be coincidental.

My first instinct was to call my brother, but my finger hovered over the call button. Logan would only worry, and he had enough to deal with right now with coaching the Warlords. Vivian would lecture me about focus and perseverance without addressing the actual threat. That left one person who had witnessed part of this strange pattern, someone who might actually believe me.

I pressed Gunnar's contact, surprised by how quickly he'd earned a spot in my phone's favorites list.

He answered on the second ring. "Morning, Highness. You summoned?"

The familiar teasing tone steadied me. "Someone cut the lights while I was practicing." The words tumbled out before I could manage a greeting. "And now there's a note under my door saying they're watching me."

His voice instantly sharpened. "Are you safe? Where are you now?"

"In my apartment. I'm fine, just..." I swallowed hard. "Unsettled."

"I'm coming over." Not a question, but a statement.

"You don't have to…"

"I'm already grabbing my keys, Starla." His tone brooked no argument.

Twenty minutes later, my doorbell rang. Through the peephole, I saw Gunnar shifting impatiently, his dark hair slightly tousled as if he'd run his hand through it repeatedly. When I opened the door, his gaze swept over me, assessing.

"Are you okay?" he asked, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

I nodded, suddenly self-conscious in my casual clothing—leggings and an oversized University of Denver sweatshirt that had once belonged to Logan. "I'm fine. Just...concerned."

He scanned my apartment, taking in the pristine white furniture, the uncluttered surfaces, the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of downtown Denver. "Nice place. Very you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I crossed my arms defensively.

"Organized. Elegant. Controlled." His gaze softened. "It's not a criticism, Starla. I mean that sincerely."

I led him to the kitchen island, where I'd placed the note in a plastic bag. "This was under my door when I got home."

He examined it without touching, eyes narrowing. "Generic printer paper. Generic font. Nothing distinguishing."

"Hardly amateur hour," I remarked dryly.

"And you said the lights went out while you were practicing?" He looked up, expression grim. "Were you alone in the building?"

"The security guard was at the front entrance, but otherwise, yes. The maintenance crew doesn't arrive until eight." I shivered involuntarily. "If I'd been mid-jump when the darkness hit..."

Gunnar's jaw tightened. "We need to check the security footage. Both at the rink and your building."

"My building has cameras in the lobby and elevators, but not the hallways," I explained. "Privacy policy for the residents."

"The rink should have better coverage." He pulled out his phone. "Let me make a call."

Two hours later, we sat in the small security office of the Denver Ice Arena, reviewing grainy footage with the security chief, a retired police officer named Pablo Santana. The camera covering the electrical room showed a figure in dark clothing and a ski mask accessing the area shortly after seven o'clock.

"Can you zoom in?" Gunnar asked, leaning forward.

Santana adjusted the controls, but the image only grew blurrier. "Sorry, that's as clear as it gets. Our system's due for an upgrade next quarter."

I studied the indistinct figure. "Height? Build? Anything helpful?"

"Medium height, slim build. Could be anyone," Santana admitted. "They knew how to avoid showing their face to the cameras. Probably familiar with the building layout too."

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