Waylan snorted, the sound bitter as low tide. “You can thank the anonymous tipster who said some goons were shaking down locals about half a bale gone missing. That’s what lit the fuse.”
Faith leaned forward again, her tone firm. “And you shouldn’t have to worry about those goons anymore. With this dirty agent exposed, the people they were working for will know the truth. Jim’s making sure of it. He was furious at the cover-up, and he’s already putting it on record where the blame really belongs. Once it breaks, the whole thing will be in the news. No reason for anyone to keep coming after you.”
The knot in my stomach eased a notch I hadn’t even realized was still there.
I glanced at Spencer, at Reef, at Jasmine—and back to Faith. The picture was starting to form.
“Hypothetically,” I said, my voice lower, “I’d probably owe that tipster more than just thanks.”
Jasmine’s hand brushed mine under the table, soft and shaking.
I covered it with my palm, finally letting the relief settle in for real. “I’m just glad it’s over.”
I kissed her then, slow and certain, not giving a damn that my brothers or the sheriff or anyone else was watching. For once I didn’t care who knew what—I was done with secrets.
CHAPTER 31
JASMINE
Kai’s mouth was still on mine, and for a moment everything else fell away—the dock lights, the murmur of voices behind us, the weight of the last month. It was just him. The solid press of his chest against mine, the salt-and-sun taste of his kiss, the way his hand anchored me like he had no intention of letting go. I sank into the safety of his arms—the one thing that had kept me sane through weeks of turmoil and silent terror. Relief poured through me, washing away the fear that had burrowed so deep I’d forgotten what it felt like to breathe without it. We were alive. Together. And I wanted to lose myself in that feeling.
The crunch of footsteps in the pea gravel behind us snapped me back, quick shuffles carrying down the dock.
“Jasmine?” Jess’s voice floated closer, tight with worry. She’d been waiting in the car this whole time—she had no idea what I’d walked into or why I hadn’t come back.
I turned, my heart thudding against my ribs as she stepped into the glow of the dock light. Her eyes darted over my face, searching.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, her brow creased.
Her gaze shifted—and landed on Kai. His hand was still braced at my hip, the heat of his kiss stamped on my lips. The confusion on Jess’s face slid into dawning recognition. “I guess it wasn’t bad news then?”
My stomach dropped. I’d left her sitting in the car like an afterthought. She had no idea what had just happened, and I’d flat-out forgotten her.
“Oh god, Jess.” The words rushed out. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve come back, I should’ve explained—I didn’t mean to leave you hanging like that.”
Her brow softened, the crease of worry easing. “Hey. What matters is you’re okay. And by the looks of things…” Her gaze drifted between me and Kai, the corners of her mouth tipping upward. “…it can’t be too bad.”
I bobbed my head, too fast. “Yes. Everything’s okay. Really. It’s just…” My mind spun in circles, not knowing what to say or how much to share. Jess had never even met the rest of them—it would feel impossible, awkward, to try to unpack the whole story here on the dock. The words tangled, useless on my tongue until I finally blurted, bumbling, “It’s a long story.”
“No worries,” she said quietly, graciously not pressing. Still, the tilt of her head told me she was tucking questions away for later. A guilty twinge pricked at me for leaving her in the dark, but it was balanced by the simple fact that she cared. Somehow, in such a short time, she’d become a true friend.
Trouble’s laugh broke the quiet. “Don’t feel bad,” he said, leaning one shoulder against a piling. “I didn’t know a damn thing either. Hell, neither did they.”
He jerked his chin toward Spencer and Waylan, standing a little apart, faces half in shadow. “And they’re the old timers from the OG smuggling days. You definitely should’ve told them, pumped ’em for intel.” He grinned at Kai, half-joking, half-not.
Jess blinked, clearly unsure who he was or why he was talking like she should know him.
He must’ve caught it, because he tipped his chin. “Name’s Trouble,” he said easily. “Kai’s kid brother.”
Mortification burned through me all over again. “Oh my God, I’m sorry.” I caught Jess’s arm, fumbling. “Where are my manners? Jess, this is Trouble—Kai’s youngest brother. And this—” I gestured toward the tall man beside Waylan “—is Spencer, their dad. And that’s Waylan.” My voice dipped with extra weight. “He’s the sheriff here.”
Jess gave them all a quick nod, managing a polite, “Nice to meet you.”
I rushed on, running her through introductions of the rest of the Rodman clan, tripping over names like I’d suddenly forgotten how to talk. My cheeks burned hotter with every word, the awkwardness magnified by Kai’s steady presence at my side. When I got to Reef, Jess’s brows lifted and her mouth twitched with amusement.
“You must be the twin brother,” she said, giving me a look that carried every ounce of theoh my God, I slept with my boyfriend’s twinstory I’d already confessed to her.
Heat flared up my neck. “Yeah. That’s Reef.”
