Page 22 of Walking Away

One day, you’ll realize losing me was the only thing you couldn’t control.

—Caitlin

Each word seared him.Abuse. Fear. The man I once loved no longer exists.

How dare she?

His vision narrowed. He slammed the wheel, the sound sharp in the stillness. Then, with a snarl, he flung her purse across the car, its contents scattering like shrapnel.

No one walked away from Jason West. No one rewrote his story.

She wanted peace? She would beg for it by the time he was done.

Let her think she could hide in her new life—her illusion would shatter soon enough.

He pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to his guy:Pick up the BMW in the morning.

Locking the car, he spat the word under his breath. “Bitch.”

He needed answers. And he knew exactly who to corner first—Izzy.

Chapter 13

Reckoning

Izzy Moreno

A warm breeze swept through Lower Downtown Denver as Izzy all but fled her office. She headed to Tavernetta—the Italian place she relied on for comfort food.

Inside, the world seemed to slow: a haven stitched together with the fragrances of stewing tomatoes, basil, and fresh bread. Tables hummed with soft conversation. She slid into her favorite seat by the window, sunlight fracturing through wineglasses and silverware.

She couldn’t quite believe they’d pulled it off—actually gotten Caitlin away from that monster she’d married. The thought brought a faint smile. Shaking the image of Jason from her head, she told herself she just needed one quiet hour of normal.

The illusion shattered as the front door banged open, chimes jangling wildly. Jason stalked inside, eyes already locked on her. His gait was that of a man used to claiming territory.

Izzy’s hands curled tight around her glass.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

Without invitation, he sat. The table between them suddenly felt dangerously small.

“Where the hell is she?” His voice was low, controlled—too controlled.

Izzy met his stare, aware of her reflection in the window—composed, bold. Inside, alarm bells rang. “I have no idea where she is.”

He leaned in, every muscle coiled. “You expect me to believe that?”

Izzy’s mouth twitched. “I couldn’t care less what you believe.”

He grinned with predator’s teeth, then slipped into a voice as smooth and false as polished marble. “Izzy, come on. I love Caitlin. You know that. This is all just a misunderstanding. She overreacted, and I can fix things—if you’ll help me.”

The waitress hovered; Izzy speared her with a look. “He’s not staying.” Then she turned back to Jason, unblinking. “Caitlin told me everything. She’s leaving you for good reason. She didn’t tell me where she went because she didn’t trust you. If you harass me again, I’ll get a restraining order—and unlike Caitlin, I’ll enforce it.”

A dark line slashed across Jason’s brow. “When she contacts you, you’ll tell her to come home. Some things in my life aren’t negotiable.”

Izzy’s words were glass-hard. “I don’t know where she is. She’ll come to me when she’s ready, and she’ll play by her rules now—not yours. You broke her. You lost her.”

Their voices had drawn attention. A couple at another table watched, pity softening their expressions.