Chapter One
“I don’t want to leave you,” I say, hugging my brother tight. “What am I going to do without you?”
“You’ll be fine. You’ll have Aubs. And the place you’re renting is close to that big family she has out there. You’ll be much safer than I could keep you here. When I find James, I’ll be able to see you again, and you can get your name back.”
I scoff. “I don’t know that I ever want to be a Chiave again. The name is dishonored as far as I’m concerned.”
Ryder’s face scrunches, his eyebrows furrowing. “I’ll make it honorable again, Soph. I’ve got things in the works. You’ll be proud of it again one day.”
Giving him one final squeeze, I look up at him. “I know you will. And I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
He reaches out, taking my hand in his, and drops a set of keys in my palm. “I got you that Tahoe you wanted. Fully loaded. Most expensive one I could find, on Dad’s dime. Even got the sage green you wanted.”
Tears well in my eyes for the hundredth time since I woke up this morning. “You’re the best big brother a girl could ask for.”
It’s not even about the truck. It’s about how he does his best to keep me safe, doing everything he always could to make our life not suck as much as it had to. I owe so much to him.
“I’m going to miss you so much.” The thought that I won’t be able to reach out to my own brother kills me. He said he’ll contact me on my new phone when he handles what he needs to with James.
“I’m sorry it has to be this way. I’ll get him as fast as I can.
Drive safe, and call me from pay phones or borrowed phones until you get back to Aubrey.
One of my guys is going to follow you as far as Chicago where someone else will pick up to Maine.
But you’ll never be alone even if you don’t see them.
And here’s enough cash to get you some hotels.
Aubrey has more waiting for you to start your life.
But I didn’t want you traveling with all that cash. ” He hands me an overflowing envelope.
I suck in a deep breath. “I guess I need to get going then. Got a week of driving ahead of me.”
He gives me a final squeeze before lifting up the few bags I have and bringing them out to my new car.
“See ya soon.” He waves from the driveway of the safe house I’ve called home for a little over a month.
I wave as I back out of the driveway, noticing the non-descript black Yukon following me.
My heart hurts to leave Ryder. But I know he’s doing all that he can to bring me home again.
Day five of driving and shitty gas station coffee has me a mere few miles from the exit I’ll take to get to Balsam Cliffs, Maine. My new home.
Pushing the button on my dash, I call Aubrey.
She answers on the first ring. “Hey, how are you feeling?”
“Tired. And I want real coffee. Good coffee. A latte with vanilla and cold foam.” My mouth practically waters at the dream of a good coffee, or even just one that doesn’t still have grounds in it.
“Once you’re settled, I can take you to Emerald Roasters. I promise Esther makes the best latte.”
I could practically cry at the thought of never having Jess’s coffee again. She opened Buckles and Brews in the town I used to call home, roasting her own beans and crafting flavors. “We’ll see.”
“I promise she’s pretty damn close to being as good as Jess.”
“I’ll hold you to that. I’ve got one mile until my exit. Are we meeting at my new home, or yours?”
“Let’s meet at the cabin. Your new landlord will be there soon once he gets a break from work. I’d like you two to meet before you meet the rest of the family.”
She pauses, and I glance in my rear view to notice the car tailing me doesn’t turn with me off the highway.
“Actually scratch that, I want you to wait a few weeks before you meet all of them. I don’t need you running scared off to who knows where.”
“I thought you loved them?” I raise a brow, wondering if I’ve missed something in the last month of healing.
“No, I absolutely do. They’re great. Just… a lot.”
“Okay. Well, GPS says fourteen minutes. So I’ll see you soon?”
“Can’t. Wait. Love you.”
“Love you.”
Ending the call, I look up just in time to see a fucking cop pass me and turn around with his lights on.
God dammit.
I pull over on the side of the road, rolling my window down.
“License and…” His words trail off as he lowers his aviators to look at me. “And registration, please, pretty lady.”
I’ve seen this look my whole life. I’m not na?ve about my looks. My mother was an Italian model, and I’m her twin. Was her twin, until she died four years ago.
“I’m sorry, officer.” I turn to dig through my center console for the new identification Ryder got for me. “Just one minute.”
Only I would manage to get pulled over five seconds into my fresh start.
When I turn back with my license and registration in hand, I see him staring at my now empty left ring finger still sporting a tan line from the stupid engagement ring James gave me six months ago.
“I see a tan line but no ring. That mean you’re here and single?” A grin appears on his face that I can absolutely see melting panties. Unfortunately for him, and probably myself, my panties are frozen to my body.
“Listen, Officer…” I search his body for a badge. “Keaton.”
A wink in my direction really solidifies his intentions. Fuck. If only I wasn’t getting a fresh start in this small ass town.
Hooking up with a cop in the back of your car on your first day in town is probably not the best idea.
Okay, definitely a bad idea.
“Officer Keaton, you don’t want me. Trust me on that.
I have a tan line that just won’t fade, same as the ex that gave me the ring.
Not to mention anxiety that could cripple an army and absolute shit taste in men.
And since you look like my walking fantasies, that makes you the biggest fucking red flag I’ve ever met.
Run as far and as fast as you can away from me. ”
He winks. Fucking winks again at my warning.
“That tan line will fade. And if you’re still here looking for a good time, I’ll be here, holding my red flag.” He starts to turn away. “Have a nice day, ma’am.”
Sighing, I rest my head against the back of my seat, unabashedly watching his ass swagger away back to the cruiser in my side view mirror.
If this were any other time, and any other version of myself, just a regular twenty-four year old coming to visit her bestie, I’d be climbing that man like Mt. Everest. And having the fucking time of my life.
But I’m this version of me. In this time. And this version is broken.
“In four hundred feet, turn left onto Pine Street,” my GPS commands, and I do as it says. “Your destination is in eight-hundred feet on the right.”
Looking ahead, I see one driveway boasting a sign on a pine tree that shows the number nine.
Turning right, I’m led down a driveway that opens to a massive, and gorgeous, log cabin. Just when I think I might have the wrong address, I see Aubrey’s car.
Rolling down my window, I park next to her. “Oh my God. This is my place?”
“Oh. Sorry. No. But your place is down a bit, and I didn’t want to go down there and have you miss my car. It’s not really going to show up on the GPS. That’ll just take you here. Wyatt lives here. Your landlord.”
“Well shit. That makes a lot more sense.” I look ahead and see his backyard that’s all open to a view of the water, and it makes me sad I won’t get this view. “Where am I then?”
She points to the right of the dream cabin, where there’s a small dirt road. “Down here. You can see the front porch.”
Looking, I take in the tiny version of the dream cabin. “Don’t worry. I’m sure Wyatt will let you enjoy his backyard with a view.”
A smile graces my lips for her. “His wife won’t mind?”
“Wife?” She laughs. “That’s not really his style. Maybe a tourist here and there, but definitely not a wife, or a girlfriend.” She hops into my passenger seat. “Come on. Let’s go get this truck unloaded. I have some stuff for you that Ryder shipped.”
Putting my truck in reverse, I drive straight back until my taillights nearly touch the porch of the tiny home. Aubrey hops out, pulling a key from her pocket.
“No one usually locks up here, but I didn’t want to chance anything, so I had Wyatt lock up after it was cleaned and give me the key.” She hands it over to me, letting the cool metal drop into my palm.
Standing frozen in my spot, letting the coolness seep into my body, it feels heavier than just a key.
“Sophia Chiave is dead,” I say flatly.
“But Sophia Black is one badass survivor with a whole new empty slate in front of her.” She hugs me from the side and doesn’t let go until I slip the key in the lock, pushing open the door.
Taking in the small interior, I’m actually shocked at how nice the space is. For such a cramped space, it feels airy and open. The sliding glass door lets in enough natural light that it doesn’t feel like a broom closet.
Tires coming down the dirt road, snapping sticks on their way, echo from behind us.
Aubrey leans back, peeking out. “Oh good! Wyatt is here.”
She retreats back toward my car, rounding the front where Wyatt parked.
And when I follow, I’m met with a familiar sight.
Officer Keaton.