Dirty, Reckless Love (Boys of Jackson Harbor 3)

I close my eyes. I didn’t want to have this conversation over the phone. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to come home yet, Mom.”

“Don’t say that.” I can picture my mother gripping the phone with both hands. “Don’t scare me like that.”

“I can’t keep hiding. And if there is someone out there who wants to hurt me—”

“There is. Colton! He’s a dangerous man. They said so on the news.”

“If anyone wants to hurt me, I don’t want to risk bringing that to your door.” I soften my tone. “Think of Phoebe, Mom.”

She draws in a shaky breath. “We almost lost you.”

“I’m not staying alone,” I say, knowing the words would reassure her less if she knew I was in Jackson Harbor. “I’m being careful, and I’m safe.”

I can’t blame my mother for keeping current events from me. If this had come to light before I’d started getting my memories back, it would’ve only added to my anxiety. I’m not sure I would’ve had the courage to leave the house for my doctor’s appointments.

But even knowing this development in the case and remembering the damning text Colton sent, I’m not afraid of the man I once loved.

Instead, I’m afraid for him.

Levi

I’m a little surprised to see everyone at Brayden’s gathered around the TV. Unless there’s a game on, we’re not big TV people on family days.

After scanning the room, I frown. “What’s with the solemn mood? Aren’t we supposed to be happy today?”

Brayden turns to me and tries to smile, but it comes off more like a grimace. “I am. The timing’s just . . .” He looks at the TV, then back at me. “Have you seen the news?”

I turn to look at what has everyone else’s attention. Shay’s standing in front of the screen with her hand over her mouth. “I can’t believe it,” she says, shaking her head. “Colton wouldn’t . . .”

“It doesn’t mean anything,” Brayden says. “It’s his father’s boat, so of course his fingerprints were all over everything.”

I don’t need to read the headlines scrolling across the bottom of the screen to understand what they’re talking about, but I read them anyway, a fist tightening around my chest with every word.

The same weapon is believed to have been used in the assault against Ellie Courdrey seven weeks ago.

All the air from my lungs is squeezed out of me.

Ellie’s alone.

I reach for my phone. “I need to call Ellie.”

Shay turns to me. “Where is she?”

“My house,” I say, putting the phone to my ear. “She was still in bed when I left.”

“She’s alone?” Brayden asks.

I squeeze my eyes shut. I hate how they’re all acting like Colton may be a danger to her. Fuck, I hate how I’m starting to believe he might be. But no. If Colton wanted to hurt her, he’d have done so at the lake two days ago. Right? Or does he need her alive until he gets information from her she couldn’t remember at the lake?

I hold the phone to my ear and wait for Ellie to pick up.

“Hello?”

“I’m on my way to get you. I want you over at Brayden’s with the rest of us.”

“You saw the news,” she says.

“Yeah. I guess that means you saw it too?”