“You stay at the Lodge, you come to my cabin, or I stay here with you.” Connor counted out the options on his fingers. “Those are the only choices you get until Ben figures this out.”

“When did you become the boss?”

“When some asshole started including me in your threatening notes.”

He knew the exact right argument to make. The one that sent a shot of guilt spiraling through her. “Solving this could take forever.”

Ben let out a harsh laugh. “Thanks.”

“You know what I mean.” She looked from Ben to Connor. “These notes . . . they’ve been happening. I don’t see them stopping anytime soon.”

Connor’s eyes narrowed. “Which is why you need to be careful.”

“I am.” She’d been over this with Ben, so she waved Connor off. “I watch out for myself and the entire island.”

“Maddie.”

Ben stood up, drawing her attention. “I thought you two weren’t dating. Here’s a hint. It kind of sounds like you are.”

“You’re not helping.” She pointed at Ben, then at Connor. “And you’re out of line. For the record, I’m not a fan of the guy-knows-all thing you’re doing.”

“I’ll apologize for my behavior once you’re safe. Until then, get used to me making some demands because—and I want to be very clear about this—my only goal is to make sure you’re here for me to apologize to in the future and not the victim of some deranged psychopath.”

“It’s just a note.” She was trying to placate him and convince herself.

Neither worked.

“The one thing I’ve learned is that some creep who gets his thrills threatening a woman will eventually try to hurt her, and I plan on standing in the way.”

“That’s actually my job,” Ben said.

She heard Ben mumble about his work but her focus stayed locked on Connor. The concern was sweet, but she wasn’t convinced she was the one on his mind right now. “I’m not your sister, Connor.”

“No, and your story will have a different, much happier, ending.” Connor’s voice shook as he spoke. When the last word bounced off the walls, a deathly quiet settled in again.

She could feel his determination. It wound its way inside her and the lure, that temptation to grab on, tugged hard.

A full minute passed before Ben broke the silence. “Maddie, he’s not wrong. This guy is escalating.”

He was right. They were both right. She hated that. “Why do you assume the notes are from a guy?”

“Do you know who they’re from?” Connor asked in a flat voice.

“No.” And until she did, she would tolerate the whole hero flex by Connor. She’d protect him right back, without him knowing of course, but the idea of pushing through this with reinforcements kept the panic from settling in. “Your house. One night.”