Something nagged at the back of her mind. A memory trying to surface through the fog of shock and pain. She closed her eyes, letting it come.
Ryan Holbrook's face appeared in her memory. The way he'd studied her booth at the farmers market, that calculating gaze cataloging everything she'd built. Then last night at the lodge.
"The beekeeper didn’t seem interested, but that should change.”
The message hit differently now. Joy's eyes snapped open.
"I need to tell you something, Uncle Heath." Her voice was still scraped raw, but urgency pushed the statement out.
Heath turned from his conversation with Gabriel, immediately alert. "What is it?"
"Ryan Holbrook. From Pacific Northwest Investments." The explanation tumbled out faster now.
"He was at the farmers market, studying everyone's booths like he was cataloging inventory. Then last night at the lodge, Andre and I overheard him on a phone call."
She fumbled for her wallet with bandaged fingers, clumsy and frustrating. The business card was still there, edges crisp against the worn leather. She managed to pull it free and hand it to Heath.
"He said something about the beekeeper changing her mind. Talked about accelerated timelines."
Heath studied the card, then looked at Gabriel. Something passed between them, the wordless communication of partners who'd worked together for years.
"Professional accelerant. Multiple ignition points." Fire Chief Ash Bright's voice cut through as he approached, his firefighter's gear still damp from working the hoses. "Same signature as the orchard.”
More vehicles arrived. Police cruisers. A forensics van. Her small corner of the ranch transformed into a crime scene complete with yellow tape and evidence markers. Joy stood in the middle of it all, trying to reconcile this chaos with the peaceful morning routine she should have been following.
Andre emerged from her workshop carrying a small drive. His movements were careful, professional, but she could see the tremor in his hands. The barely leashed violence in the set of his shoulders.
"I've got everything downloaded," he said, holding up the drive.
His gaze swept the scene, lingering on her bandaged hands, the destroyed hives, the forensics team marking evidence. A muscle jumped in his jaw. His feet shifted toward her, an aborted movement that spoke of his need to touch her, to verify she was safe.
"I should stay." The words came out rough, his bear bleeding through. "You need protection. What if they come back? What if?—"
Heath's voice cut through Andre's spiraling. "We need to get that footage to the station.”
Andre's hands curled into fists. "I'm not leaving her unprotected."
"She's not unprotected." Heath's tone remained steady, but Joy caught the understanding in his eyes. "She's surrounded by family and half the police force."
"That's not enough." Andre took a step closer to Joy, his body angling between her and the open land beyond the bee yard.
"Andre." Joy's voice came out stronger than she expected.
His warm brown eyes were wild with fear and rage. His bear was so close to the surface she could practically see it pushing against his skin.
"The best way to protect me is to find who did this." She lifted her bandaged hands, ignoring the way they throbbed. "That footage is the only lead we have. You installed the system. You will understand what you’re looking at. I need you to go do your job. Now."
His jaw clenched so tight she heard his teeth click. "Joy?—"
Andre's chest rose and fell with harsh breaths. The internal battle played out across his face—duty versus instinct, logic versus the primal need to guard his mate.
For a moment she thought he might refuse. His bear was winning, she could see it in the golden tinge creeping into his eyes. Then he closed them, drew a shuddering breath, and when they opened again they were brown once more.
"Fine." The word came out like gravel. "But you should stay with your parents. And… text me every hour. And if anything—anything—feels wrong, you call immediately, and I’ll be here."
Joy nodded, not trusting her voice.
Andre stepped closer and wrapped her in a hug. "I'll find who did this," he promised, and the words vibrated with barely controlled violence. "We'll end them.”
