Page 11

Chapter 10

I t’s such a beautiful day to be on the beach. Although it’s not a real beach, the beauty of this man-made creation is undeniable. This spot is my favorite on the lake, nicknamed Laguna Beach because it resembles a lagoon, and with its clean sand and sparkling, crystal-clear blue water; the lake offers a picturesque sight.

I thought we'd never get here. Being her typical self, Allie was almost an hour late but brought gifts that made her tardiness forgivable: a half gallon of wine slushy from the nearby winery and a charcuterie tray with various cheeses and salami. That’s my girl. Hopefully, the warm embrace of alcohol will soothe the whirlwind of thoughts in my head. While waiting for Allie to arrive, I did a deep dive into Candice Smith, mother of seven-year-old Ansley. They live in a low-income neighborhood on the outskirts of town, and Candice has a history of multiple arrests for public intoxication, possession of methamphetamines, engaging in prostitution, and shoplifting. She’s been investigated by the Department of Family and Child Services a staggering four times for child neglect. It’s unfortunate that the woman couldn’t utilize her Oscar-winning acting skills to benefit her child. Several neighbors have stated that Ansley is frequently left home alone or under the care of strangers Candice invites into her house, and teachers have also reported that Ansley shows up in dirty clothes with unwashed hair.

The little girl recently started acting out at school, likely due to her home situation and bullying by other students. I make a mental note to contact Bryce, my college best friend, a hacking expert, and someone I can always rely on. Aside from Allie, Bryce is the only person in the world I completely trust, and he lives in North Carolina with his partner.

“I'm really happy we decided to do this,” Allie exclaims, pulling out two cups and filling them with wine slushy. The dark red marks on her wrist immediately grab my attention.

“Allie, what the hell happened to your arm?” I demand, anger boiling inside of me.

Her eyes dart away. “Oh, it’s nothing,” she says dismissively. “I snagged my bracelet on the door handle at work.”

I narrow my eyes suspiciously, my attention drawn to the distinct fingerprints. “Huh,” I mutter under my breath, barely audible.

I’ve never seen her wear jewelry on her left wrist. I let it go for now, but if Dalton is hurting her, I will fucking kill him.

Frustrated, I look over at the lake. The gentle lapping of water against the shore is accompanied by the distant chirping of birds. It’s quiet and peaceful, with only a few boats scattered around. Firmly resolved to embrace the day, I push aside my dark fantasies of torturing Dalton .

Taking a leisurely sip of my drink, I lean back into my lounge chair, and the sun’s caress lulls me into a state of pure relaxation.

I must’ve dozed off for a few minutes because I suddenly jolt awake, my heart pounding and my lungs gasping for air as my recurring nightmare slowly dissipates. Why do these nightmares persist, refusing to release their grip on my mind? And what caused them to come back so soon? After eliminating a monster, I usually feel a sense of relief that lasts for weeks or even months.

I steal a quick glance at Allie, who remains engrossed in her phone, seemingly oblivious to my current state. She must have noticed me drifting off and decided to give me a chance to catch some much-needed sleep.

I hastily gulp down the remainder of my drink, anticipating the warm sensation of the alcohol coursing through me.

“Do you want to join me for a quick swim?” I ask.

I catch her gaze as she rolls her eyes in my direction. “Eww, no.” She grimaces. “I’ll stick to swimming pools, thank you very much.”

“You do know you’re more likely to catch a disease in the community pool, right?” I retort with sarcasm, strolling to the edge of the water. The sun glistens on the surface as I wade in until the water reaches my waist. Then I dive forward, feeling the cold slap of it against my skin. Despite the chill, I can’t help but love it. It provides a cathartic experience for me. In the water, I can disconnect from my thoughts and the outside world, simply reveling in the serene sensation of effortlessly gliding through it.

As I resurface for air, urgent shouting to my right reaches my ears. In an instant, I feel two powerful hands gripping me tightly, guiding me toward the safety of land. My instincts kick in, and I fight back with all my might. With a sudden burst of strength, I push away from the thick, muscular arms restraining me. Just as I’m about to deliver a powerful punch to his face, I stop in my tracks when I hear someone calling my name.

Out of nowhere, the deafening roar of a motorboat fills the air, zooming dangerously close to us, missing by a mere fraction of an inch.

Once the boat passes, I start thrashing again, and the person holding me instinctively retreats. His voice laced with amusement and caution, he says, “Easy there, Little Killer. You need to calm down.”

Slowly, I become keenly aware of the warm, muscular arms holding me close, and I raise my head to look up at the man who seemingly just saved my life.

The moment our eyes meet, I instantly recognize the intense, dark blue of his gaze—one that radiates both anger and concern. It’s clear the anger isn’t directed at me as his piercing gaze surveys my body, searching for any sign of harm.

“Tessa,” he rasps. “Are you okay?”

I nod slowly, the gravity of the situation making it difficult to find the right words. With a shaky hand, I brush a strand of wet hair behind my ear.

“Oh my god, Tessa!” Allie’s screams pierce through the air, reaching my ears.

The motorboat comes to a halt and reverses its direction.

“Yo, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you swimming out there,” the driver of the boat calls, a guy with red hair wearing a wife-beater and cutoff jeans .

“Wilson, what in the actual fuck?!” Eli yells at the boater. “You could’ve killed her!”

“Take it easy, man. I can assure you that she looks completely fine to me,” the driver says, his gaze shifting to me as he offers me a lecherous smile, openly ogling my breasts. “Sorry, sweetcakes.”

“My eyes are up here,” I state coldly, glaring at him.

He meets my gaze and smirks. His pupils are wide and dilated—a clear sign he’s under the influence of something. Behind the haze, there’s a disturbing, almost sinister quality to him. A sense of unease washes over me, a deep darkness I can’t explain, and my gut tells me he’s dangerous.

“Just get the fuck out of here asshole,” Eli growls, his voice dripping with rage.

Another boat approaches with two familiar-looking men on board, both staring down Wilson, who starts his boat again and speeds away.

It doesn’t escape my attention that Eli’s still right beside me in the icy water. My body is tingling in response to his presence.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asks, the worry still evident on his face.

Only then do I realize he’s without a shirt. I take my time to admire the sculpted perfection of his abs. Jesus, how long has it been since I had my last orgasm? Or, more accurately, since I had one without relying on my vibrator. There’s something about this guy that ignites all my senses. A smirk lights his face, as if he could hear what I was thinking.

“I’m alright. Where did you even come from?” I ask, perplexed.

“We were fishing when I saw that idiot speeding toward you at ninety miles an hour. ”

He points to the men in the boat idling up beside us, a golden retriever happily wagging its tail.

“This is Jace and Trevor.”

“Good to meet you. Mr. Long, how’s that finger doing?” I call out, remembering the moment I had to stitch up his right index finger after a near-severing incident with a table saw.

With a grin, he says, “You can call me Trevor, and my finger’s healing well, thanks to you, Doc.”

I catch Eli’s intense glare directed at Trevor from the corner of my eye.

“Tessa, are you okay?” Allie’s voice trembles as she reaches my side. “You scared the life out of me.”

“I’m fine,” I respond, steadying my tone. “Eli saw what was happening and pushed me out of the way.”

Turning to Eli, I add, “Thank you for saving me. I didn’t see that guy coming. Who is he?”

“Wilson Randall,” Eli snaps with disdain.

“Randall... is he related to Sheriff Randall?”

“Yeah, he’s Sheriff Randall’s youngest son. He’s constantly causing trouble, and his father always bails him out. I’ll let Bob know what went down, but I doubt he’ll do anything. In his eyes, Wilson does no wrong,” he says with a severe expression.

Eli’s gaze flickers to Jace for a moment, who is busy watching Allie, then returns to me.

“You should check out the local band performing tonight at The Blue Lagoon—they’re really good. We’re planning to meet up with some friends, and you two should join us,” he says as he wades toward the boat .

In one fluid move, Eli hoists himself out of the water, his glistening, toned body reflecting the sunlight and water around him.

I fidget uncomfortably. When it comes to socializing, I tend to shy away from large crowds. As his eyes implore mine, I can feel the intensity of his gaze, like a burning flame. Is it really that terrible to go out and enjoy ourselves? I quickly look at Allie and notice a hint of uncertainty in her eyes.

“Um, I will have to see what Dalton wants to do tonight,” she replies meekly, her eyes downcast, her voice lacking confidence. I can’t help but notice Jace’s eyes narrowing, his gaze becoming sharp and focused on Allie’s statement. It piques my curiosity, and I wonder if the two have a past connection.

“You two should come along and don’t worry about bringing that asshole,” Jace says.

Glancing away, Allie fidgets with the bracelet on her right wrist. The bruise on her left wrist is already turning a darker shade, the shape of the imprint now looking more like fingers.

I confront her with a determined look, ready to challenge her. “I’ll only go if you go.”

She’s constantly pushing me to be more social, and now she’s got her shot.

Allie merely shrugs in response.

I face the boys and casually brush my wet hair off my shoulder. “We’ll try to make it. I owe you a drink, after all. Bye, boys.”

As Allie and I make our way back to shore, I toss a wink at Eli, feeling his lingering gaze on my ass.