“That’s what I feared. Does he have any connections to the island? Family? Friends? Business?”
I shrugged.
“He never talked about his work or his family. I have no idea. But I wouldn’t have picked this place if I had known about any connections to him.”
“No. Of course not,” Dare sighed. “Do you have any idea how he found you?”
I shook my head.
“I took every precaution I could to hide from him. I even changed my name—” I stopped. I’d already said more than I should have. Then again, Dare was here to help me. How could he help me if he didn’t have all the facts?
“Your name isn’t Zach?”
I smiled.
“It is. It’s my last name I changed. I should have changed it all, but God I didn’t think it would matter.” I buried my face in my hands. “Stupid. Stupid, stupid Zach.”
“Hey!” he boomed, and I felt a weight on my side as he sank into the couch next to me. “Don’t do this. It’s not your fault,” he said. “None of this is. You’re not to blame for any of it. You hear me?”
I stared at him, so close I could smell him, and he stirred up something primal in me and once again all I could do was nod because he’d rendered me speechless. How could I speak when there were fires everywhere inside me? Little flames that lit up my flesh and made me feel more alive than I’d ever felt in my whole damn life.
“Do you hear me, Zach?” he repeated.
“Y-yes,” I croaked without thinking.
“I’m gonna go get the guest room ready. Do you want a refill?” He pointed at the cup, and I shook my head.
“Just some water if you don’t mind.”
He smiled.
“Of course I don’t.”
He walked back to the kitchen, filled up a glass of water and brought it to me before retreating to the hallway, chased by his goats, leaving me alone with his dog, who had fallen asleep with his head on my lap.
“How can such a big dog be such a cutie pie?” I murmured and rubbed his side when my phone beeped.
As I struggled to get my phone from my back pocket, Lookah lifted his head and gave me a little tail wag. He looked like he wanted to play, but he was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open.
“How could I ever be scared of you, huh?” I said and squeezed his cheeks. “It’s going to be fun having you around.”
However long that lasted.
I sighed and unlocked my phone to read the text I’d just received.
Unknown number: I miss you come back to me
Something sunk in my stomach and the room started spinning.
“No!” I yelped.
No, no, no.
Hadn’t it been enough that he’d destroyed my truck, taken me from my home, ruined my soul? Now he had my number too?
I dropped my phone on the coffee table. Then thought better of it and picked it up, switched it off then threw it on the table again.
“No!” I repeated.
