Page 16 of Shadow’s Protection (Hurricane Heat MC #1)

I scan the parking lot and see all the cars are unscathed.

Windows aren’t broken, but there is a ton of plant debris—branches, leaves, even small shrubs that seem to have been completely uprooted and blown about—all over the lot.

There is so much trash—water bottles, papers, food wrappers, even used clothes.

It looks like someone dumped over a public trash bin and soaked everything in the ocean.

It’s distressing, and I hesitate for a moment.

Maybe Shadow was right. Maybe the roads won’t be drivable.

As far as I know, my condo isn’t ready yet, and who knows if it’s suffered any storm damage.

We walk toward my car, and I unlock it with the fob. The sun is out now, but it’s not really sunny. It’s just bright and stiflingly hot.

After tossing the overnight bag in the back, I squint up at him. I can’t make out his expression, and I lower my eyes. I have to go. There’s nothing left to say.

“Violet.” His low voice at my ear has me turning back. “My bedroom door is always open for you.”

I flush hot and try to think of something to say to that. Thank you? Goodbye? But I have no words. The last two days have been life-changing.

“If you can’t get where you’re going, come back. The road crews will be working to clean up for a couple of days, but it might be bad out there.”

I hear his words, but I can’t stay. I don’t know what it would mean for my heart, my body, my future if I did.

I have to leave now or I know I won’t go at all.

I’ll stay here and do what? This isn’t real life.

This is a bump in the road. A pit stop. In a few hours, Shadow will have another girl in his lap.

I yank open the car door, refusing to meet his beautiful green eyes. I can’t say anything. I feel like half my body is still back in that bedroom with him. I don’t do one-night stands. I don’t do casual. I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to leave.

Suddenly, his hand is on my wrist, and he’s pulling me from the car. He angles my hips to his and lowers his face to mine. He kisses me, softly at first, but then he opens his mouth, and I feel every ounce of his hunger.

I don’t know what it means. I don’t know what to do with whatever he’s trying to show me, but I kiss him back. I don’t want to say goodbye, but I don’t belong here—no matter how much I wish I did.

I want to memorize his taste, and I swear the way that he’s kissing me, it’s as if he feels the same.

He grips my behind, tugs me close, and feasts on my mouth for so long that I’m breathless and panting.

He’s so hard, I half expect him to bend me over the hood of my car and take me right here, but he doesn’t. He pulls away, his eyes blazing hot.

“Johnny Butcher.” I whisper his real name. I don’t know why I said it. Don’t know why I felt like taking away the sexy nickname, the tattoos, the scary exterior, and just whispering his name. But that’s what I do as I lace my hands together behind his head.

“Violet James.” He says mine, lowering his forehead to mine.

I have to go.

I have to go.

I can’t do this.

I turn away fast, get in my car, and slam the door shut. My fingers are shaking as I turn the key in the ignition. I don’t want to leave. Don’t know how to say thank you, goodbye, and what? Thank you for showing me the time of my life? For showing me fun and sex and friendship and…

No.

I have to leave.

I’ll unpack this when I’m alone. When I can trust my heart won’t lead me down a path I’ll deeply regret.

So, I don’t say anything. I just drive.

I leave the parking lot and pull onto the road, refusing to look back because I know Shadow hasn’t moved. He’s still standing right where I left him, looking exactly how I feel, and it doesn’t make any sense.

My phone starts to ring, and I grab it on the first ring, before I even register the ringtone.

“You fucking cunt. Who the fuck is Shadow?”

I slam on the brakes. “Excuse me?” I put the phone on speaker and set it in my cupholder as I drive slowly toward the main road.

I’m going to need my GPS to navigate my way away from the compound, but right now, I’m realizing that Shadow may have been right.

The road is littered with debris, branches so large and sharp, I’m terrified I’ll shred a tire.

This is stupid.

I’m so, so stupid.

Clive clearly agrees.

“I’m gonna kill him, Violet. Did he fucking touch you? Why the hell did another man answer your phone?”

I slow my car to a stop and rest my head on the steering wheel. I listen to Clive rant and rant, spewing hatred at me, insults at Shadow. I slowly piece together that Clive must have called last night and Shadow must have answered my phone.

Shadow talked to Clive, and he threatened him. And now, Clive is threatening me.

My mood flip-flops from lost to furious.

I’ve spent six terrifying and stressful months carefully planting the seeds of a new life.

A life that Clive shouldn’t have been able to penetrate.

He shouldn’t know where I am. He shouldn’t know anything about Shadow or the compound or where I spent the last few days.

Shadow had no right to pick up my phone.

He had no right to put himself between me and Clive.

I was handling my ex. I was handling my own business.

And now, all I hear is the rage, the threats, the shit-talking that I thought I had put behind me for good.

“I know where you are, Violet. And I’m going to make you pay.”

I don’t even have to end the call. Clive hangs up, and the sudden silence shocks me into action.

Clive knows where I live? He found my new address? Even if I could get there, now I can’t go there. Not now when I don’t know if there’s power.

Two days ago, I was scared, but I wasn’t helpless. Now, I’m powerless.

Vulnerable all over again.

And this time, it’s not my fault.

It’s Shadow’s.