Deadly Promise (Crimson Hollow #7)

Chapter One

Teagan shifted uncomfortably on the tree stump that had been his seat for the past thirty minutes.

His damn tailbone throbbed, and tiny bugs kept thinking his shoes and pants were their detour destinations.

He’d lost count of how many he’d swatted away.

If they didn’t figure something out soon, he might become their new ant farm.

As he brushed away three more bugs he couldn’t identify and didn’t want to, Hayden continued his relentless orbit around their sedan, muttering curses with each lap.

Crickets chirped in the darkness, making Teagan’s skin crawl.

He’d always despised anything with more than four legs.

Or eight eyes. Sharp teeth. A long, wiry tail.

Squinting into the darkened woods not ten feet away, Teagan prayed this remote mountain town wasn’t known for wolves or bears. The only defenses he had against wild beasts was their broken-down sedan and his boyfriend.

Not in a sacrifice-by-running-faster but a shield Teagan could duck behind while shaking in his space boots.

Moonlight flickered between passing clouds, casting strange shadows across the deserted road. His mind conjured images from every horror film he’d ever watched—isolated woods, stranded couple, mysterious town.

Breathe. And stop psyching yourself out before you have a complete meltdown.

Teagan had had enough of those to last two lifetimes. The biggest reason for his meltdown, the reason for their abrupt move.

Their shift started in an hour. Fat chance they’d make it now. Crimson Hollow was supposed to be their fresh start, their chance to maybe heal. Just thinking about it made his stomach clench. Friendly smiles and kind gestures had led to Teagan’s world falling apart.

The memory of that night still haunted him. Hard knuckles to the face, the beep of the heart monitor, recounting to the detective, and the subsequent trial. Teagan had sat in that chilly courtroom, feeling judging eyes on him whenever someone looked his way.

A fresh start was exactly what they needed.

Hayden’s friend Trevor was the one who’d helped them get their jobs and had even found them a rental two towns over from where they used to live. It had been only three days since they’d arrived, and now this.

They wouldn’t even be in this predicament if it hadn't been for those two asshole who’d befriended Hayden. In Teagan’s opinion, prison was getting off easy. Edwin and Ramos hadn’t just physically broken him, but shattered his trust in humanity.

A friendly smile and willingness to lend a hand were no longer harmless gestures but a reminder that evil dwelled behind the mask.

Rotating his shoulder, which still bothered him a year later, Teagan felt himself spiraling to a place he didn’t want to be, so he forced those memories back into the abyss where they belonged.

Watching Hayden kick at the dirt beside their broken-down car, Teagan wondered how in the flip they were going to get to town.

“Come up with an idea yet?” he asked, biting his bottom lip as Hayden glared at the hood of the car, as if willing the engine to suddenly turn over.

Shoulders finally slumping in defeat, Hayden threw his hands up. “We’ve got no choice but to walk to work. If we start now, we should cover the three miles in no time.”

A high-pitched, hysterical bark of laughter escaped Teagan.

“Did you just say three miles? In the dark, with no way to defend ourselves if a wolf or bear decides to eat us? Sure. Why not? And what about when we get off of work?” Teagan stood, gesturing wildly at the trees on both sides of them.

“This is exactly how every horror movie begins. Alone in the dark at night, on a desolate road, starring two unsuspecting idiots.”

Hayden sighed, his breath visible in the cool night air.

“I agree, but we can’t blow off our first shift just because our car died on us and some lunatic with a chainsaw, knife, or bad lines might chop us up and sell our parts.

” Hayden opened the driver’s door and hit the automatic buttons that would lock it up tight before shutting it.

“Did you just secure our nonworking car from potential thieves?” Teagan stared incredulously at him. “Who the hell’s gonna take it, a wayward groundhog with a rebellious streak?”

“Do you want to get back here to find our car on blocks and the rims gone?”

Teagan blinked at the half-bald tires and banged-up rims. “How could I have ever doubted you?”

“Let’s just get moving, dork.” Hayden glanced behind them then started walking. “Just try not to think of how this could go horribly wrong.”

“Those crickets sure do sound ominous.” Teagan smacked his sweaty neck at the feel of a pesky mosquito. “Like the background music to the start of act one.”

“I will make you sleep on the couch for an entire week if you don’t stop,” Hayden warned, eyes sliding to the woods on his right.

Teagan fell silent, wondering if they’d make it to Frothy Pine by closing time.

Headlights swept over them from behind, creating a halo of light that had Teagan looking for a set of glowing eyes or flash of something trying to stay out of sight.

Just normal woods with normal animals. No one is hidden behind a tree tracking your every step.

The loud, throaty sound of an approaching truck drowned out the cacophony of crickets. For a second, the instinct to run and hide seized Teagan. Maybe the nonexistent guy tracking him would share his tree to hide behind.

“Seasoned hunter, looking for more challenging prey to kill,” Hayden said. “Crossbow through the forehead.”

“Isolated hermit in need of human meat for a special recipe.” Teagan swallowed, glancing away from the blinding lights. “Front bumper breaking every bone.”

Please be a douchebag who doesn’t stop to help strangers.

The roaring engine quieted into an idling purr, fog lights replacing headlights. Instead of hauling ass like they had an ounce of self-preservation, Teagan and Hayden turned around and stood there, clearly welcoming their demise.

A massive black pickup idled on the shoulder of the road, Teagan imagining the entrance to hell was just beyond the driver’s door.

Jump in for a free ride, stay for the fiery damnation.

Teagan snickered.

Hayden glanced at him with a puzzled expression.

“Monster truck rally announcement.” Teagan tapped his temple. “It’s a goddamn mess up there right now.”

The driver’s door opened. A stranger unfolded from the cab like a switchblade, impossibly long legs appearing first, stylish black boots planting on the ground.

Teagan’s jaw dropped when the stranger eased the rest of the way out, revealing a silhouette so tall and muscular the truck should’ve groaned as he exited.

Instinctively, Teagan stepped sideways with the need to hide behind Hayden.

His jacket hung open, revealing a black T-shirt pulled taut across a chest broad enough to take a nap on, a jaw carved from granite, and the thickest, prettiest lashes Teagan was envious of.

The eye color remained a mystery with the angle of the guy’s head.

He was a smoking-hot skyscraper, and Teagan was going to look away before Hayden caught him eye-fucking the stranger. Which shouldn’t have been a concern since he noticed his boyfriend was staring just as hard.

When Teagan finally managed to look up, he found himself staring at a face that belonged on a magazine cover—jaw like granite, gorgeous eyes and thick lashes, and eyebrows dark as thunderclouds.

Handsome didn’t begin to cover it. Powerful in a way that made Teagan’s knees weak.

The stranger’s silky hair completed the image of someone who solved problems with his fists while making you swoon at the same time.

Teagan couldn’t make out the color of his eyes in the dark, but he felt the weight of that gaze like a physical pressure. He was six-and-a-half feet of pure intimidation. We’re so dead.

“That your beige sedan I just passed? The man’s voice rumbled so deep Teagan felt it in his ribcage before his ears registered the sound.

Hayden stepped forward despite Teagan trying to yank him back. “Yeah. Just cut off while I was driving. I looked under the hood then remembered I know dick about fixing cars. You heading into town? We’re late for work.”

Oh hell no! Hayden did not just ask for a ride from a guy they knew absolutely nothing about. Gorgeous men were the most unhinged. This entire situation screamed danger. Serial killer. Body parts in freezers. Missing persons reports.

“Exactly where I’m headed. Hop in and I’ll give you two a ride.”

Said the spider to the flies.

“I’m not ending up a cold-case file,” he hissed under his breath. No goddamn way Teagan was stepping a foot closer to that truck. Hayden had lost his ever-loving mind. “We don’t even know him.”

Crossing his arms, Teagan dug in his heels. He wasn’t going to volunteer for his own death. If he was about to die, the bastard would have to work for it.

* * * *

With a deep scowl, Teagan sat wedged between Hayden and the behemoth, pissed off he’d rushed to the truck when he heard twigs snapping. Each bump in the road threatened to press him against the driver’s massive frame. But Teagan inched even closer to Hayden, ticked at the situation.

While praying they survived.

“I’m Hayden, and this is Teagan. We really appreciate the lift,” Hayden said in a friendly tone as Teagan sat there struggling not to glance at the driver. As the trees blurred past, a strange flutter in his belly formed.

“Name’s Liam,” the man said with a single nod. “No problem. Walking a road at night can be dangerous, especially if you’re not wearing anything reflective.”

Teagan leaned toward Liam’s deep, silken voice, each syllable an intimate caress.

“If you don’t mind me asking, you guys together, as partners?”

Teagan stiffened, no longer caught in whatever spell that baritone voice had cast over him. They’d only been in Crimson Hollow four days, most of their boxes still unpacked. But they couldn’t take any chances the town wouldn’t turn on them.

After the attack, their neighbors had become less friendly, no longer waving hi or engaging in pleasantries. They would hurry away, avoiding eye contact, as if Teagan and Hayden weren’t even there. It wasn’t until Hayden confronted Mrs. Pike they learned what was going on.

“I have nothing against you personally, Hayden. I just don’t feel it’s right for two men to be together in that way. Most of the residents aren’t happy with that kind of lifestyle.”

After the confrontation, life had become unbearable in that building.

Teagan refused to go through that again.

“Just roommates,” Hayden replied with a lazy shrug. “Splitting rent makes life easier.”

The lie rolled off his tongue so convincingly Teagan almost believed it. Knowing why Hayden had done it didn’t make it hurt any less.

Liam’s gaze lowered toward Teagan, their eyes meeting before Teagan looked away.

Blue. Liam’s eyes were blue.

Even though Teagan didn’t look up again, he felt those blue eyes return to him more than once.

The truck rolled to a stop before Liam put it into Park. Teagan had been so busy trying not to look at the guy he hadn’t noticed them pulling into the parking lot.

“We’re here, fellas,” Liam announced.

Hayden slid out immediately.

“Let’s go, we’re late.” He strode toward the entrance while Teagan hesitated.

Once again Liam’s eyes found his, and Teagan froze. Something electric passed between them. A current that held him there, unable to move or speak or even breathe properly until Liam decided to release him from whatever spell those blue eyes had cast.

“Teagan, let’s go,” Hayden hollered.

“I’ll see you inside, Teagan.”

Liam winked, and Teagan nearly passed out from that ridiculous jawline and those hands that could probably crush walnuts without trying.

What in the hell is wrong with me? Hayden’s my boyfriend, and I’m sitting here being seduced by a complete stranger.

Who possibly possesses a collection of machetes.

Scrambling out of the truck, Teagan hurried to catch up to Hayden, feeling the man’s eyes on his back the entire time.

* * * *

Hayden felt something constrict beneath his ribs as he registered the flash of hurt in Teagan's eyes. “Just roommates.” The lie had slipped out so easily, a reflex born from necessity.

There were nights when Hayden woke up in a cold sweat, the image of those spray-painted slurs burning behind his eyelids. The hate letters he’d intercepted from their mailbox and quietly burned behind their apartment building still weighed on him.

Teagan didn’t need to know about those. His baby had already been through enough. But it was evidence of why they couldn’t risk being themselves here either. Not after what happened to Teagan.

Twenty years of friendship, growing up three houses apart, building forts and riding bikes, until one evening last summer when Teagan had looked up at him with those beautiful hazel eyes and everything changed.

Now when Hayden watched him move—all five-feet-three of him with that silky blond hair falling across his forehead, dimples appearing with each smile—his throat went dry.

Hayden glanced around the room.

The tavern hit him like a wall of sound after the quiet street outside. Pearl Jam—or maybe Guns N’ Roses?—blasted through speakers, making the rows of glasses behind the bar tremble with each bass note.

Not his usual playlist, but something about the raw energy felt right tonight.

Every table bulged with bodies. Laughter competed with shouted conversations as patrons leaned into each other’s space, drinks sloshing dangerously close to edges.

The air smelled of beer, whiskey, and the particular musk of too many people having too good a time.

Hayden’s gaze locked onto the massive oak bar dominating the left wall. Behind it stood Ash—all six-feet-something of his new boss—spinning a bottle between his fingers before pouring with perfect precision.

The same man who’d interviewed him last week on Zoom, whose casual confidence had left Hayden struggling to form coherent sentences.

Ash caught a sliding pint glass without looking, flashed a brilliant smile at a customer, then barked something at a server that made the guy snap to attention. The contrast between his charm and command made something twist in Hayden’s stomach.

Palms sweaty, he approached the bar. “Ash?”

Ash looked up, recognition flashing across his face. “Hayden and Teagan.” His smile seemed genuine despite their lateness. The man was a mountain, easily matching Liam’s height but with broader shoulders that strained against his gray T-shirt.

What were they feeding these men in Crimson Hollow?

“I know it looks terrible showing up late, but our car—” Hayden started.

“Liam radioed ahead.” Ash waved off the explanation. “Let’s get your paperwork sorted in my office so you can start earning those wages.” He stepped from behind the counter. “This way.”

When had Liam called Ash? Hayden was pretty sure he would’ve seen the guy making a call in the truck. Weird.

Following Ash through the crowd, Hayden felt eyes on him.

He glanced back to find Liam watching him with undisguised interest from across the room.

What concerned Hayden was his overwhelming attraction to Liam, which made him feel guilty since he was in a relationship with Teagan.

Yet, he couldn’t deny how much he liked Liam’s eyes on him.

That bothered Hayden. A lot.

Not once since he and Teagan had decided to be together had Hayden even looked at another guy. Why would he when he had the man of his dreams?

The office door opened to reveal a space that made Hayden blink twice.

Three potted ferns crowded the windowsill, their fronds stretching toward venetian blinds.

A jade plant with coin-shaped leaves occupied the corner of a polished oak desk, its surface neat except for the plant and a manila folder.

The walls, painted a soft cream, muted the bass thumping from the bar, creating an unexpected pocket of calm.

Wow.

“Forms are on the desk in that folder,” Ash said, gesturing toward his desk. “Find me when you’re done, and we’ll get you started.” He slipped out, pulling the door closed behind him, leaving them alone with the muffled thump of bass from the bar.