The Thing About Trouble (Crystal Lake 1)

God, she was so tired of the same fight.

“Edward, I don’t have time for this.” She made to move around the man, but he grabbed her arm, and pain sliced up all the way to her shoulder. He yanked her close—so close she could see the fine wrinkles in the corners of his eyes and smell the pungent aftershave he favored.

“You go when I say you can, bitch.” Spittle formed at the sides of his mouth, and her stomach turned. All that violence and hatred in his eyes was more than enough to make her feel sick. And even though she hated to admit it, she was scared.

“Edward, you’re hurting me.” Her voice was a little too high, and her heart sat in her throat. She tried to back away, but all it did was manage to thrust her chest forward, and his gaze landed there and stayed.

A slow,

dark grin slid across his face, and he leaned closer. “This get you worked up? Is that all it takes?” He pressed even closer, and she thought she would be sick. He made no effort to hide his erection, and she felt his hardness against her hip. “I could bend you over this car right now.” His hot breath made her gag. “And screw you into tomorrow if I wanted to.”

“You’re disgusting,” she spat, trying to keep her fear and helplessness from showing.

“And you’re a whore.” He slid his large, beefy hand over her face and stuck his forefinger in her mouth. Blue felt bile clog her throat, but it was met with red-hot anger.

“You’re going to back off with the dance studio, and you’re going to sign over control of the company to me. It’s mine.” His eyes bulged. “Or I’ll make sure you’re the sorriest bitch on the planet, and I’ll damn well enjoy doing it.”

She bit his finger—hard—at the same time she kneed him right where it hurt the most. Edward swore a blue streak and staggered back, hunched over as his face contorted in rage. Blue didn’t hesitate. She ran for the house, her long legs eating up the distance in no time. She was inside with the door locked before Edward was able to even think about grabbing her again.

Chest heaving, she bit her lip in order not to cry and peeked out the window. Edward Barnes stared up at the house with a look on his face that was chilling. He stood there for several long moments, and then, as if he knew she was watching, spat on her Honda before sliding inside his expensive SUV.

Five seconds later, he was gone.

Ten seconds later, Blue sent Cam a text message canceling their plans for the evening. She was upset and shaking from the strength of it. He would know something was wrong, and Cam wouldn’t give up until he knew why. She wasn’t ready to share the dark side of her life with him. God, he had enough to worry about.

Twenty seconds later, she was curled into the large circular sofa in the family room, Giselle purring against her chest as the fear and anger and frustration slowly left her body.

Blue wasn’t sure how long she stayed there—she’d dozed off—but it was dark by the time she pulled herself up. The cat circled her food bowl, and she filled it with kibble and then topped up the water. She was hungry but didn’t feel like eating and, after making sure the security alarm was set, headed for her bedroom and a hot shower, where she stayed until her fingers began to prune.

Restless, Blue pulled on a faded gray sweatshirt and baggy sweatpants, wincing as pain shot up her forearm. The bastard had grabbed her hard, and already it was starting to bruise. He’d threatened her and made her feel more vulnerable than she’d felt in a long, long time. She knew she had to deal with him, but she didn’t know what to do. David was adamant that his son not have control over the company. It had been his greatest sorrow that his only child wasn’t deserving of the gifts he’d been given. In a way, Edward Barnes had broken his father’s heart. He’d stomped on it and tossed it away with no regret.

The will was ironclad. Edward couldn’t break it, and he knew that. So, being the bully he was, he thought threatening Blue physically would get the job done.

She shook her head and walked over to the large window that overlooked the lake. He was a fool if he thought that kind of violence would shake her foundation. She’d been through worse. But she was tired. And alone. And so damn tired of being alone.

In the distance, lights shimmered across the water. She listened to the sounds of her home, to the heaviness of its weight. It was a sound steeped in sadness. Somewhere in the house, her cell phone pinged, and she ran downstairs, scooping it from her purse on the counter in the kitchen. Heart beating fast, she hit the button and held her breath.

It was from Cash. A quick message to let her know he was in Albany, New York, and that he was fine. He also said he might have some news to share, but didn’t elaborate. Always mysterious, her brother.

Blue clutched the phone close to her chest and bit her lip. Cam had read her message, but there was no response. Was he mad? Disappointed? Giselle meowed, threading her supple body through Blue’s legs before disappearing around the corner, no doubt headed for the comfy chair she’d claimed as her own. The furry creature was so independent. She didn’t need anyone really.

Blue used to be like that.

Thoughts and feelings collided inside her, and before she knew what she was doing, she’d slipped her feet into an old pair of flip-flops in the mudroom, grabbed her purse, and let herself outside. Her hair was still damp from the shower, and she shivered from the coolness of the evening air. She hopped into her car and pointed it toward Crystal Lake.

Toward Cameron Booker.

His truck was in the driveway, and she parked behind it, cutting the engine but not getting out. Soft light fell from the large bay window, and she saw a shadow cross in front of it. Blue held her breath, and then the door opened.

Cam leaned against the doorframe, his tall frame silhouetted in darkness, but she felt the strength of him as he gazed across the lawn to where she was parked. Was she going to do this? Cross a line she’d never crossed before? Because she knew that if she did, she wouldn’t be able to go back. And that crossing this particular line put her in danger—or at least her heart. Blue slowly got out of her car and made her way up the path that led to his home. The path that led to him.

“Hey,” she said softly.

“You okay?” he asked, concern lacing his words like warm butter.

She was trembling, whether from the cold or the fact that she was about to take a huge leap of faith. Offering up a small smile, she shrugged, not sure if she could trust her voice.

“I’m tired, Cam.”