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Beatrice

Mike was snoring. Loudly.

I should’ve felt safe in my own bed, with a pile of pillows and a dog who would jump all over anyone coming into my room. That would give me enough time to get out. He may still be a puppy with all that energy. But I knew he watched me carefully.

I hadn’t slept. Not really.

Even after the chaos of helping deliver Lori’s baby—which should’ve knocked me out cold, I was wired. My nerves were still crackling. It wasn’t just adrenaline.

It was that feeling again.

That old sixth sense I couldn’t shake. The kind that had kept me alive more than once. The same one that flared the moment Mandy, the German Shepherd belonging to the ridiculously attractive man next door, went on high alert.

Animals always know.

I glanced at my phone—Three-fifteen a.m.

I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Mike, I didn’t feel like walking him on the beach right now. I padded into the kitchen. I didn’t turn on the light—old habits. Too many nights in too many dark places had taught me how to move in the shadows.

The ocean was a whisper outside my window. Normally calming. But tonight it felt like camouflage.

I pulled the blinds back an inch and scanned the backyard.

Nothing.

No shadows moving. No crunch of gravel. No lights on the beach.

But the air still felt… off.

Too still.

Too quiet.

I slid my hand into the drawer near the sink and wrapped my fingers around the handle of my gun. Just touching it made my heart slow a little.

It wasn’t paranoia if they were actually looking for you.

And someone was . Sometimes I could feel them watching me, but I’ve never seen anyone.

I just didn’t know if he was out there. I’m sure he’s dead. He couldn’t have survived that explosion.

* * *

Later that morning, I walked barefoot across the sand, pretending everything was normal. Raven was on his deck again, sipping coffee and brushing Mandy’s hair. He looked like a man who hadn’t slept much either.

His eyes locked on mine as I approached.

“You okay?” he asked, standing.

I shrugged. “Mike puked up seaweed. I’ve been up since three.”

His lips twitched. “Your dog has a thing for chaos, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah, well, he learned from the best.”

I hadn’t meant to say that. But there it was—floating between us like a warning. I always had plenty of chaos around me. My Dad used to say trouble followed me.

Raven didn’t press. Smart man. Too smart, maybe.

“I owe you a clean shirt,” I said, handing it over. “Washed and dried. Smells like Tide with Downey.”

He chuckled. “Thanks.”

I turned to go, but paused. “Thanks for yesterday. You kept your cool with Lori.”

His smile faded just a little. “Mandy didn’t sleep last night. She was pacing the deck.”

So it wasn’t just me.

“You think someone was out here?” I asked, testing the waters.

“I know someone was out here,” he said flatly. “And they came too damn close.”

A beat passed between us.

Then I nodded once. “If I see anything, I’ll let you know.”

And just like that, we had an unspoken pact.

I wasn’t just the new girl on the beach anymore.

I was someone with a past.

And Raven Ledger—he was the kind of man who’d find out exactly what I was hiding.