Lake nods. "Their CFO was in a panic. He said they'd been getting equipment failures, delivery problems, all kinds of issues that are tanking their value. I think the idea is to make them desperate to sell."
"Systematic sabotage," I growl. "It’s the same playbook he's trying to run on us."
"And I heard from my contact at Evergreen that they're closing their distribution contract with Cascade," Lake adds, glancing apologetically at Wren. "Sorry."
She shakes her head, her expression hardening. "It’s not on you. This isn't about normal business competition. That bastard’s playing dirty."
"He's trying to squeeze us from all sides," I say, the pieces falling into place. "First taking our distribution partners, now attempting what—some kind of mafia intimidation bullshit?"
"Looks like it,” Lake says.
I run a hand through my hair, fury building in my chest. "We need to beef up security. We need new locks, more cameras, whatever it takes."
"Already on it," Lake assures me. "But what's his endgame here? He offered to buy you out, right? Why resort to this?"
"Because I told him to go fuck himself," I say. "And he's not used to hearing no."
Wren places a hand on my arm, her grip tight. "He's playing dirty with both of us. First taking Eastside, now trying to sabotage Timber."
I cover her hand with mine, something pissed the fuck off burning inside of me while I consider options I tossed out years ago and an idea starts to form in the back of my mind. "Well, he picked the wrong people to fuck with."
"Do you think the police will do anything with what we've told them?" she asks, glancing toward where the officers are finishing their report outside.
"Doubt it," Lake says with a frown. "We can identify Marcus, sure, but Miller will just claim he was acting on his own. Or deny any connection altogether. And it’s not like he showed his face in the video. His bum leg doesn’t really prove anything."
I know he's right, but the thought of Miller getting away with this makes my blood boil. "We'll handle this ourselves. Startingwith better security." I turn to Wren. "And we need to warn other local breweries. Whatever Miller's planning, it's bigger than just us."
She nods, her business face firmly in place. "I'll call a meeting tomorrow. Get everyone together."
By the time we've finished dealing with the officers and planning security upgrades, it's nearly dawn. The brewery's quiet again, the excitement over. Lake heads home to catch some sleep before his shift, leaving Wren and me in my office.
She leans against my desk, exhaustion clear in the slump of her shoulders. "You okay?"
"No," I admit, moving to stand between her legs. "I'm pissed. Someone tried to mess with my business." My hands settle on her waist. "But I'm glad you were here."
She looks up at me, her eyes serious. "We're partners in this, Kasen. Whatever Miller's up to, we’ll face it together."
"Partners," I repeat, liking the sound of it more than I should.
She smiles, a tired but genuine curve of her lips. "Now take me home. I’m so tired, your cement floor is starting to look as good as your bed.”
I press my forehead to hers, drawing strength from her presence.
Whatever Miller's planning, he underestimated what he's up against. He might have money and corporate power, but Wren and I? We've got something much stronger between us.
And I'm starting to think it might be love.
Someone's trying to destroy everything I've built, and my first thought is to protect Kasen. Not my company. Not my future. But him.
What the fuck is happening to me?
It's just after seven in the morning, and I'm standing in Kasen's kitchen—our kitchen?—gulping down decaf like it might magically transform into the real thing if I drink enough of it. My phone won't stop buzzing with texts from brewery owners panicking after word spread about the break-in at Timber last night.
"Evergreen just confirmed they're not renewing their contract. That's the third brewery this week," I tell Kasen as he walks in, freshly showered, his hair still damp. The sight of him makes something flip in my stomach that has no business flipping. But Kasen in nothing but low-slung jeans with a few water droplets still running down all that ink and those muscles? I never stood a chance.
I blink a few times as my brain comes back online and when my eyes finally find their way to his face, he’s smirking. I, of course, ignore him.
"That motherfucker’s not wasting any time, is he?" He comes up behind me and presses a kiss to my neck. His hands slide around to rest on my stomach. The little bubbles I've been feeling in there for weeks have started turning into something more as the baby gets bigger, and I don’t know who’s moreexcited for him to feel the baby for the first time, him or me. "You okay?"
