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“He’s married, has two kids.”
I laugh when Carli’s eyes widen. “I didn't know that!” she exclaims. “But I can see Jonah being a family guy like that.”
“Which is why he understands why I’m worried about your safety. If anything happened to his woman, he’d commit murder. I’ll burn the whole world down.”
“But you’ll be here, right? So I’m safe?”
Dammit.
“About that, I wanted to talk to you—”
My phone pings three times, cutting me off. I look down at the screen and see that it’s Danika. Her SOS message at the beginning has me immediately unlocking the phone and skimming through her messages.
Jace, IT’S IMPORTANT.
Kevin is dead.
We checked the cameras and it was Devon.
It looked like they were arguing about something and Devon looked tense. He pulled out a knife and drove it straight into Kevin.
Keep Carli safe. You stay safe. I’ll let you know if I find out something else.
Kevin is young, but ambitious and loyal to Silver Moon. Well, he was. I squeeze my eyes shut, the guilt of him dying weighing down on me like a thousand bricks.
“What is it?” Carli reaches to grab my hand but I pull back, sitting away from her.
“Nothing,” I say with a tight grin.
She doesn't need to worry about Devon coming after her. She doesn't need that stress. I need to eliminate it as soon as I can before more people get hurt.
“Are you sure?” she asks, eyes confused and knowing.
“Yeah,” I nod, forcing a smile. “Just work stuff. All good.”
Chapter11
Carli
Jace is acting weird.
The whole time we ate, I could tell he was tense. He kept checking his phone, eyes darting to the road, and his smiles towards me were forced. The playful mood he was in just a few minutes ago vanished right after that text pinged on his phone.
I cock my head, eyes narrowing as I scrutinize him. “Hey.” I touch his arm.
We’re in my living room now, and I can’t take his silence any longer. The food in my stomach is threatening to rise when I think of all the horrible possibilities of what’s bothering him. Is it Beth? Does she want him to come back? Is it Devon? Does he know where I am and is threatening to come get me? Or is Jace having doubts about us all of a sudden, remembering that I don’t want to go back to Rockport, and I wouldn’t like it if he leaves as well?
I know it makes me selfish. I should let him go. He has a job, a family, his grandmother and friends. I wouldn’t want him to leave all that just for me. All I’m asking is a little more time with him, though. We just got back together and the thought of waking up without Jace by my side makes me feel sick. I’ll miss him. I’ll miss his support and the help and most of all how happy it makes me to know he’s close by. Not to mention, I’m scared of Devon. I won’t confess that to Jace when he’s so worried about protecting me, but deep down inside, I’m terrified.
If Jace leaves, my fear will get worse and I won’t know how to handle our long-distance relationship. I ponder about it at night with Jace’s arms wrapped tight against me and our bodies are flush together. Maybe I’m selfish, weak. Where did the independent woman I swore I’ll be gone? Am I too dependent on Jace, or is this what love means?
Our future right now is so unclear. Where we would live is just one small question amidst so many. Things will only get complicated when I give birth. If Jace can’t properly communicate right now and give me reassurance, how will we stick together when things get rough? Doesn’t he remember that it’s because of our lack of understanding and secrets that broke our relationship apart? I don’t want that to happen again, but oh boy, he’s so fucking stubborn.
“Yeah?” Jace asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I quickly smooth out the frown on my face and plaster on a smile. “Are you sure you’re okay? Don’t think I haven't noticed you’ve been acting differently.”
Jace exhales, rubbing a hand down his face, his chin tipping downwards. “If it was something you needed to know, I would have told you, Carli. Everything’s fine, okay? Trust me.”
