Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
My blood pounded in my ears as fury exploded in my chest.
I sat back hard in my chair, fingers flexing into fists until the knuckles popped. He’d been talking to her like they were a couple—giving orders and keeping tabs. The thought of his hands anywhere near her made my vision go dark at the edges.
That was it.
No more waiting. No more pretending this was something I could handle alone.
I opened my contacts and scrolled to Jax’s name. My thumb hovered over the Call button.
If I made that call, it wouldn’t just pull him off his honeymoon. I’d have to explain how I knew about Alanna’s stalker. Other stalker.
It would expose everything—how deep I was already in, how far past the line I’d gone.
I could already hear his voice, sharp and jagged.
“You swore you’d keep her safe! Not fucking date her!”
The phone buzzed before I could talk myself into making the call.
Motion alert.
The feed popped up on my screen—grainy black and white, timestamped 8:08 p.m.
It was one of the cameras outside Alanna’s building.
I watched a familiar sedan pull in slowly, the headlights cutting across the quiet lot.
Ethan’s car.
My chair screeched along the floor as I shot to my feet. I grabbed my keys and wallet on the move. By the time I hit the garage, the night air was thick and still, salt from the coast riding the wind. I swung my leg over my Harley, the seat still warm from the afternoon sun. The engine roared to life, the noise soothing my temper just enough to put me back in control of myself.
Before stowing my phone in the inner pocket of my cut, I glanced at the screen.
Son of a bitch!
Ethan was stalking up to her front door.
I twisted the throttle hard enough to make the pipes snarl, then took off, leaving behind a cloud of dust.
9
ALANNA
The document on my laptop blurred before my eyes. Words danced across the screen, none of them making sense. I rubbed my temples and tried to focus, but my brain refused to cooperate.
I’d been staring at the same sentence for ten minutes when my phone buzzed against the cushion. I glanced at the screen and grimaced when I saw it was my mom calling. A sigh escaped before I could stop it.
I’d meant it when I told Jaxton I was cutting our parents out of my life, but I hadn’t blocked them from my phone yet. There hadn’t been much need since they’d been radio silent since I moved out of my childhood home, much to my surprise.
But now that my mom had decided to call, ignoring her would only buy me a day of peace at most before she tried again. And I was too tired to deal with a string of her voicemail guilt trips.
I swiped to answer. “Hey.”
“Alanna.” My mother’s voice was sharp enough to slice through the air. “Do you realize how long it’s been since you left? Nearly two weeks have passed without a real update. Your father and I are both very concerned.”
Concerned was code for angry. It always had been.
“I’m fine, just like I told you I’d be.”
“Fine?” she repeated, the word dripping with disbelief. “You stormed out of our home only days after your brother’s wedding. One of your more dramatic moments, I might add. And now you’re living alone in some strange town without—”
“Without you micromanaging my life?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
There was a shocked inhale on the other end. “We only ever tried to protect you, Alanna. You’re not ready to live on your own. You’ve never had to handle real bills or responsibilities. Be reasonable and come home.”
I pressed my eyes shut, clenching my free hand into a fist. “I’m not coming home, Mom.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she scoffed.
“You don’t have to worry about me.” I heaved a deep sigh, already regretting that I hadn’t blocked my parents. “My state scholarship covers my tuition, and I have one from the university to help pay for the rest.”
“State aid doesn’t last forever. And that brother of yours can’t keep throwing money at you whenever he feels guilty.”
The familiar anger flared, hot and bright. “Jaxton has nothing to feel guilty about. If anyone does, it’s me…for letting you and Dad keep me away from him for so long. He’s an amazing big brother, and I’m lucky to have him. Goodbye, Mom. And don’t call me again.”
I stabbed my finger against the screen to disconnect, and then I blocked both of my parents. Tears stung my eyes, born of frustration more than sadness. I had no regrets about going no contact with them. Not after how badly they’d failed my brother and me.
My phone buzzed in my hand again, and I jumped. The screen lit up with a new message.
Ethan
We need to meet up.