Chapter 1
“Sorry I’m late.” Berkley slid onto the barstool next to Silvia, one of her oldest friends.
“You’re not late. I’m early.” Silvia held up a glass of dark red wine, the color similar to her hair. “And I started without you.”
“I’m actually only drinking sparkling water tonight. I’ve got to wake up early. But I am starving.” She glanced down at the short bar menu even though she knew what she was going to order—bang bang shrimp. “So how was your day?” She set the menu back down, wincing a little at the stickiness.
The End Zone was one of her favorite places in Sanctuary Falls but they could stand to clean up a bit more. Something she never would have noticed a few years ago.
“Long. This new job is… I can’t talk about it just yet, but it’s a pain in the ass.” Sighing, Silvia took a sip of her wine. “It doesn’t even matter. I’m just happy to see you.” She glanced at her cell. “Kendall should be here soon too.”
“She said she had big work news.” Berkley was so happy for her. Both she and Kendall had struggled in their early twenties, partied too much and made a lot of mistakes. But they’d both turned things around and Kendall deserved all the good things.
Silvia’s expression was oddly neutral.
“What?” Berkley asked, wondering how bad this new job was. Silvia was a private investigator, and while she took independent jobs, she also took contract work from insurance companies or law firms. Berkley guessed this was one of those jobs.
“Nothing. Just…” She cleared her throat, was just starting to say something when Kendall slid up to the table, a big smile on her face as she shed her puffer jacket.
January in North Carolina required it.
“Hey guys.” Kendall set two little gift bags on the round table, but paused as their server came up and took the rest of their order. “Water, really? It’s Friday.” Her tone was light, taking the sting out of her words.
“I know, I’m getting up early,” Berkley said.
“I don’t know how you do that bouldering stuff.” She shook her head.
Berkley had started bouldering a few months ago, and to her surprise, loved it.
She’d always been into hiking, but climbing scared her.
Bouldering was a lot different though and she liked how much it kept her focused.
Since getting her life back on track, she’d found hobbies she loved in addition to a job she loved.
It made a big difference in her outlook on life. “One move at a time.”
Kendall snorted. “You’re such a nerd. Now open your presents.”
Silvia made a little oohing sound as she pulled out a travel-size perfume bottle and Berkley found the same but travel-sized lotions.
“Thank you, these are great… What’s this for though?” Berkley asked.
Kendall shrugged, tossing her long, white-blonde hair over her shoulder—and Berkley didn’t miss the double take one of the men at the table behind them gave her. Soon she’d be getting drinks sent over. It always happened.
“My dermatologist had a basket of leftover stuff today, so I snagged a bunch for you guys.”
Silvia laughed lightly. “I need to change dermatologists.”
“Right? Thanks, Kendall. This is really sweet.” She was always bringing them little gifts. “So, what’s your big news?”
“Oh.” Her face fell. “Nothing. I was up for shift supervisor, but it didn’t work out.”
“Is it because of…Henry?” She hated that she even had to ask. Berkley’s ex-husband was a very talented neurosurgeon at the same hospital Kendall worked at and she swore he just loved making anyone in her orbit miserable.
Another shrug. “I honestly don’t know. He has a lot of sway, but…if it is because of him, I could never prove it.”
Yet another way her shitty ex screwed with her life—by hurting the people she loved.
She’d never hated another person the way she hated him.
Hell, she hadn’t thought it possible to loathe someone that much.
She didn’t want to loathe him, she just wanted to move on from him and be done.
It wasn’t like they had kids or anything, but Henry kept shoving himself back into her orbit in little ways that tested all her patience.
She wished he would just move on. “I know it’s not my fault, but I’m still sorry. ”
“It’s definitely not your fault,” Silvia added in a hard tone. “He’s a dick. I’m sorry about the job though, Kendall. That sucks.”
“It’s fine. I love being a nurse. And I’m thinking about looking into travel nursing, maybe for just a year or two. The money is so good and I could build up a nice nest egg and get more experience.”
“I love that…” Berkley trailed off as her charming, unfortunately good-looking ex strolled into the bar. He made eye contact before she could look away. “Speak of the devil,” she muttered. Come on universe! Give me a break.
“Hello, ladies.” He stopped at their high-top table, gave Kendall what Berkley could only describe as a lecherous grin. “You’re all looking…fit.”
Ew. Ew, ew, ew. How had she married this tool? He’d put on such a good mask. Hell, a perfect one. He’d reeled her in and it wasn’t until months after they were married that he’d shown his true colors.
“And you’re looking gross. Go away,” Silvia responded before Berkley could find her voice.
His expression chilled considerably as he turned to Silvia—who had never liked him. He gave her an icy smile, then turned that faux charm on Berkley that had stopped working years ago.
“How was your Christmas?” he asked.
“Great, thanks.” She kept her tone as neutral as possible, even as she wished she could just ignore him.
But there were people she knew in this bar and she had no doubt they were watching their interaction with interest. She refused to give them anything to talk about or post on social media.
She wasn’t the mess she’d been before marrying Henry.
Hell, part of the reason she’d married him—something she could only see in hindsight—was because she’d thought he was good for her, would help turn around her reputation.
He nodded and she could see a hint of the old cruelty glint in his dark eyes. “That’s great. I hear your little business is doing well now too. I’m so happy you landed on your feet—though I’m sure that settlement from me didn’t hurt any.” He laughed loudly, and she couldn’t even fake a smile.
Instead she picked up her water and focused on drinking it as if it was the most important thing in the world. Sure, she could snap back at him, but that was what he wanted. A reaction. And she refused to give him one, especially in front of all these curious stares.
“Scram,” Silvia said as both she and Kendall remained quiet.
“Did you just say…scram?” Henry blinked at her, incredulous.
“Would get lost work better for you? Or how about ‘get thee from my sight’? Ooh, or what about ‘depart, demon’?” Silvia nodded, clearly pleased with herself. “That one works on a couple levels, because I’m not convinced you’re not at least part demon.”
“There’s something seriously wrong with you,” he muttered before stalking away, headed…
Berkley didn’t even care where he was going. She was just glad he was gone, so she turned away, focusing on her friends as she snickered. “Thank you.”
Kendall laughed too. “God, I hate that man.”
Silvia just shrugged, but she looked pleased with herself. “What are friends for?”
Berkley’s chest warmed at her friend’s nonchalant answer because she was so damn grateful for the two of them.
They’d been there for her in a big way after her divorce.
And when Henry had made a move on Kendall, she’d shut him down fast. Now Berkley was pretty sure it was coming back to haunt her friend at work. Tale as old as time with men in power.
She’d told her friend that she needed to file a report with HR, but Kendall wasn’t interested in that. He was the hospital’s star surgeon and beloved by a whole lot of people. Everyone knew he’d slept around with half the nurses.
Everyone but her, apparently. And no one cared or did anything about it. The man was untouchable.
Whatever, she wasn’t going to waste any more time thinking about him. She’d divorced him two years ago, had officially moved on, and the last year had been one of her best.
She refused to give him any more space in her head.
Even though her gut reaction was to order a stronger drink, she stuck with water. Because that was the old Berkley just wanting to react. She wasn’t going to let him or anyone control her actions anymore.
***
Groaning, Berkley opened her eyes and rolled over… “What the hell?” She pushed up on the chilled tile floor, blinking as she glanced around the unfamiliar surroundings.
A dull ache thumped at the back of her skull as she sat fully up, tried to figure out what was going on.
She was in…a kitchen she didn’t recognize. Stove, microwave above it, top-of-the-line refrigerator. Definitely not her kitchen.
Reaching up, she gently touched the back of her head, felt a knot. Winced.
The last thing she remembered was leaving the bar last night. She’d had to park in the back, and by the time she left she’d been cursing to herself about letting her friends leave before her—because she’d had to walk to her Bronco by herself.
Feeling almost hungover, she managed to get to her feet, stumbled into the countertop, managed to steady herself. She knew she hadn’t been drunk but…her head throbbed.
She was still dressed at least, as a new fear settled in her bones. Looking around the pristine kitchen she didn’t see her purse or phone or…anything of hers. And she was still wearing her shoes and jacket.
She took a tentative step forward, wobbled a little. “Hello?” Her throat was dry. Immediately she stopped herself. What if someone had abducted her? She wasn’t tied up or anything but…something was very, very wrong.
As a wave of nausea swept through her, she paused against the granite countertop, steadied herself again.
The blinds in the kitchen were closed, but enough light was coming through them that she knew it was early morning. Maybe sunrise.
She needed a clock.
She scanned the room, saw the time was five forty-five. She’d been out for hours. Where was she, and how had she gotten here?
Another wave of dread swept through her, but she forced her feet to keep moving as she stumbled through the house. Living room empty, bedroom empty, office empty…
She sucked in a breath as she spotted the body lying dead still in the middle of a king-sized bed. She couldn’t actually see a wound of any kind, but the man’s face was slack, unmoving, and had a sick pallor. He had to be dead.
Swallowing hard, she stumbled back once, went to grip the doorframe but stopped herself.
She was in the house with a dead man and no memory of how she’d gotten here. She couldn’t leave fingerprints.
Because there was no way in hell she was calling the cops. Not with her history.
Even as fear spiked through her, everything still fuzzy, she retreated out of the room and made her way back to the living room where she’d seen a landline.
With trembling fingers, she slid on the mittens in her pocket then dialed a number she had memorized. A burner phone she knew she could call day or night.
“Yeah?” Her youngest brother answered on the first ring, sounding wide-awake.
“Micah,” she whispered, shoving down the rising panic. “I think I’m in trouble.”