Page 13 of Wyoming Bodyguard
Lily stood just inside the doorway. “Why would someone do this? Break in and throw things around the room like confetti? We haven’t seen the rest of the house, but so far, it doesn’t appear as though anything was taken.”
“Honestly, it looks like someone was searching for something. I don’t want to speculate, but if the intruder had a specific thing to find, they’d come in and do exactly what was done. Go through the targeted area as quickly as possible, not caring about the mess. Grabbing what they needed and leaving before getting caught. If we find that no other room was raided, it will be telling of the intruder’s intentions.”
Lily furrowed her brow. “Sorry, my brain is mush. I’m not following.”
“If the office was the only place someone searched, they were probably looking for something related to the business.”
A doorbell rang, confirming law enforcement had arrived. “I can keep clearing the house if you want to answer that.”
She hesitated, her gaze lingering on his for a beat before dropping to the floor.
Either she was too tired to hide it, or she hadn’t changed as much as he’d thought over the years, but he could read her like a damn book. “Or I can stay with you. The deputies will search anyway. No reason for us both to go through your home.”
A glimpse of a smile poked through. “Good point.”
She led the way back to the front of the house and welcomed the deputies. He recognized both, though didn’t know either of them well.
The woman, not much older than him, offered a hand to Lily. “Ms. Tremont, I’m Deputy Silver. This is my partner, Deputy Hill.”
The younger of the two removed his hat, revealing dark hair and blue eyes. “Evening. Sorry about your troubles. May we come in?”
Lily stepped back, allowing them access to the house. “I called Madden McKay.” She waved a hand in his direction, and he gave a nod. “He owns Sunrise Security.”
Madden offered a hand to each of the deputies. “I searched the main living areas and office before you arrived. The rest of the house needs to be cleared, but figured you’d want to handle that yourselves. The doors off the kitchen appeared to be tampered with. Might be where an intruder gained entrance.”
“Thanks,” Deputy Silver said. “We’ll take a look, as well as go through the rest of the residence, but first we have some bad news for Ms. Tremont.”
A soft gasp echoed off the high ceiling, and Lily’s body swayed as if about to crumble. “Is my dad okay?”
The crack in her voice moved Madden to her side. He secured an arm around her waist and held her upright.
Deputy Hill frowned. “We received word from the hospital on our way here. Someone snuck into his room and attacked him in his bed. He’s stable for now, but it’s unclear if he’ll stay that way.”
A strangled sob shook Lily’s shoulder.
She collapsed against Madden’s chest, and he held her close as she cried.
* * *
An eternity passed by the time Lily and Madden stepped back into her home, and she was ready to fall asleep on the spot. After speaking with the authorities and a return trip to the hospital to see her dad, she was convinced one more step might be the death of her.
“Do you mind if we head downstairs? That’s where my living space is.” Never in a million years did she imagine she’d invite Madden McKay to her bedroom, but the wall of windows in the living room made her feel exposed. As if whoever had put this nightmare into motion watched her every move.
“Sure. Wherever you’re most comfortable. Give me one second.” Madden made a lap to double-check the house was locked then met her at the staircase leading to the basement.
She hated how safe he made her feel. He’d stuck by her side while the deputies cleared the rest of the house then asked her questions about her father. Each insinuation that her father had involved himself in something that had put a target on his back had landed like a missile. Her dad might not be a saint, but he wasn’t a criminal.
Madden hadn’t said a word. Just offered her support and comfort and protection.
And now, as the clock ticked into a new day, he was still there.
Once downstairs, she flipped on the light, highlighting the stone wall that matched the one directly above it, the fireplace a smaller version than the one upstairs. The couch and love seat centered around it were a lighter beige and softer than the dark, firm leather her father preferred. The low ceiling wouldn’t allow wooden beams to be stretched across it, but the white tile and marble countertops in the connected kitchen mirrored the place she shared most her meals with her father.
Leaving her childhood home wouldn’t have been wise since she spent most of her hours working at the ranch or visiting her dad, but she’d wanted her own space.
Space that gave her all the qualities she loved about her home but with a little more privacy.
Madden whistled. “Wow. Not what I expected.”
