Hidden Roots (Citrus Cove #3)

Emma

emma

Three Years Ago

“Oh god, I’m going to die.”

Not only was I going to die, I was going to die in the middle of fucking nowhere at night on a two-lane road surrounded by nothing but hills and sheep. Or cows. Or whatever animal Texas had in their stupid fields.

My car sputtered as I eased into the tall grass, rolling to a full stop. I put it in park, throwing my head back against the seat with a dramatic groan.

I’d underestimated the amount of gas I’d need on this last stretch to Citrus Cove, and now I was going to pay for it. I was hangry, needed to pee, and was so damn close to the small town that it only made me more upset.

I snatched my phone out of the cup holder and shook my head. No signal.

“Son of a bitch,” I sighed.

I looked back at Donnie—my small, ancient dog. He was curled up in a tiny ball in his little carrier, sound asleep without a care in the world.

The only reason I ever considered moving to a place like this was because of Haley. She was my best friend, my ride or die, and after the hell she’d been through with an actual serial killer—I wanted to be there for her. I’d even make room for her new man too, though reluctantly. I didn’t like sharing.

Come on, . Think, think, think. The empty gas tank sigil burned in the dark, a glowing symbol of my untimely demise. I could see the headlines now. Sexy City Girl Mauled by A Texas Cow. I leaned forward, peering out the window for any sign of said beasts.

Despite my fears, my gaze lifted to the sky. The stars were pretty. I’d been in one city or another my entire life and couldn’t remember a time I’d seen them like this. The vastness of it above me brought my panic down a notch.

I really didn’t want to walk all the way into town. It was almost midnight and that sounded like a great way to end up murdered.

Headlights flashed in the rearview. My heart leapt in my chest. I grabbed my purse from the front seat, opened the door, and waved my hand erratically to get their attention.

Maybe I could hitch a ride. I had a taser and knew how to use it. Then there were the multiple years of martial arts. I could take out a grown man if he tried anything stupid.

A truck slowed down and pulled off the road in front of me. I pulled my taser out of my purse and turned it on, hiding it next to my side as I got out of the car—just in case.

The truck’s driver side door opened and a man stepped out. Fuck, what the hell did they put in the water down here? Even from his silhouette, I could see he was tall and muscled. What if he’s also a serial killer?

Driving all the way from Baltimore had made me tired, unhinged, and paranoid. Over twenty-four hours in the car was a long time to be alone with my thoughts. But I decided I couldn’t be too careful.

“You okay?” he drawled.

“My car ran out of gas,” I said.

“Are you all alone out here?”

What the fuck kind of question was that? That was one a psycho asked. “None of your fucking business,” I snapped.

A sound echoed from him. Did he just grunt at me? I narrowed my eyes as he opened the back door of the truck and reached inside.

Oh god, oh god, oh god.

I aimed the taser at him in case he pulled out a gun. He leaned in deeper into the truck and then straightened, pulling out a red gas can. What kind of person kept a can of gas in their car?

He turned and froze, slowly setting the gas can back on the seat. “What the hell are you doing, woman?”

“Well, I got paranoid that?—”

My finger slipped.

I squealed as the taser launched the two probes straight towards the stranger. It hit him in the stomach and his whole body stiffened on impact, the buzzing sound louder than the crickets chirping.

I dropped the taser with a scream. “Oh god, that was an accident!”

He hit the ground with a heavy thud, followed by a moan.

“Fuck!” I ran over to him and knelt down in the grass. “I am so sorry!”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he wheezed. I reached for the probes and yanked them free, earning another yelp from him. He swatted at my hands. “ Seriously ?”

“I’m sorry! There’s been a serial killer in this area and I’m fucking tired and you’re a stranger and I’m just trying to get to Citrus Cove and escape the woman-eating cows.”

He grunted again and rubbed his jaw. Up close, he was far more handsome than I could have ever guessed. Shadows danced over his short beard, dark hair, and searing gaze. I couldn’t tell what color his eyes were, but they were pretty, too.

He was also covered in mud and dirt.

And glaring at me like I was the last person in the world he wanted to see.

“I just need to get to 129 Hummingbird Lane,” I said quickly. “If you can drop me off, I’ve got twenty bucks I can give you.”

“Why the hell do you need to go there?” he asked.

“What do you mean?” I glared at him.

“That’s where my soon to be sister-in-law’s sister lives.”

I stared at him as he stared at me. His expression slowly pinched.

The realization hit me. “ No ,” I said.

It must have hit him too, because he groaned. “For fuck’s sake. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” He shook his head, his brows drawing together in a scowl.

“Don’t you dare tell me.” I stood up with a scoff.

Of course the one motherfucker I’d run into on my way to Citrus Cove was him.

He rubbed his face. “I should have recognized your annoying voice,” he muttered as he sat up.

“Excuse me,” I snapped. “I’m right fucking here.”

“Oh, I’m well aware. You’re really ?”

I crossed my arms. I certainly had no regrets about tasing him now. “I sure as hell am. Not so nice to meet you, I’m Madden.”

He snorted as he slowly got up. “Hunter Harlow.”

“Oh, I know. I recognize your annoying voice.”

Hunter rolled his eyes. “How in the hell does one run out of gas? Did you just not notice? Are you really that careless?”

Ugh, this guy could fuck all the way off. “I miscalculated when I needed to fill up. Just give me the gas can and I’ll be on my way.”

“It’s empty. I was going to suggest we run to the closest gas station, but it may be easier to leave it for tomorrow.”

“Okay. Are you going to give me a ride or what, then?”

He sighed, looking at his truck and then my car. “Yeah. Then you’re Haley and Sarah’s problem.”

“Fine by me.”

“Fine.”

“ Fine ,” I said again.

He narrowed his eyes on me. “You’re one of those women who feel like you always have to have the last word, aren’t you?”

“I’m one of those women who will happily taser you again and then grind your balls under my heel if you don’t check your fucking tone,” I said pleasantly.

His gaze slid down to my shoes, and he shook his head. “You’re not gonna last here more than a month. Did you really drive all the way here wearing those?”

“It’s only a three-inch heel. But of course you’d think three inches is a lot,” I scoffed, my eyes flicking down to his crotch.

He raised a brow and got to his feet, towering over me. “How about you grab your purse and get in my car, princess ?”

Yuck. I hated that nickname more than anything else. “Yeah, just what I need. A hillbilly knight covered in mud.”

Heat flickered in his gaze. “Grab your things and get in the damn truck.”

“Are you going to help me?”

“Nope.” He turned and slammed the back door and then slid into the front seat. “Hurry up. It’s late.”

He shut his door before I could snap at him. Shaking my head, I stomped back to the car to grab my keys, purse, suitcase, and Donnie’s carrier, before hauling it all to the truck.

I fought to open the back door to the cab of his giant truck and tossed my suitcase in. I decided I’d take Donnie out of the carrier to let him judge Hunter with me.

“What the hell is that thing?”

Hunter was twisted in his seat, looking back at us.

“This is Donnie,” I said. “My dog.”

“He’s a rat.”

“Oh, then you must be related.” I opened the passenger door, and grabbed the ceiling handle to pull myself in. It took some maneuvering while holding Donnie, but I finally managed to settle into the seat before I turned to him. “Who even needs a truck this big?”

“Someone who works on a farm.”

Donnie sighed, staring at Hunter with the same amount of disdain I harbored in my heart.

“Just drive,” I snapped.

“As you wish, princess .”