Ryder just gives a short nod, his jaw still tight. “Good. Now, get your things, Aurora. You’re coming with us.”
She looks between the two of us, clearly frustrated but resigned. I can tell she’s still not happy with the idea, but she’s also not going to make a scene.
As she walks off, Ryder turns to me, his expression still furious but softening a little.
“You better be damn sure this doesn’t happen again,” he says. “She’s not some girl you can play with, Finn.”
I look him in the eye, his words settling in.
“I know,” I say quietly. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
I mean it. But I know that this is just the beginning. Things aren’t going to be simple for either of us anymore. Not with Aurora in the middle of it all. And not with the things I’m trying to figure out about myself.
But tonight? Tonight, I’ll make sure she’s safe.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Aurora
I can’t stand allthis tension pressing in on me from every side. Ryder’s grip on the wheel is tight, his knuckles white. He doesn’t look ready to let go of anything, least of all control. Finn’s beside me, but for once, he’s quiet. His usual easy grin is gone, replaced by something I can’t quite read.
I’m used to rolling with life, being a free spirit, but tonight, nothing feels steady. I’m caught in a current I didn’t choose, and no matter how I try to calm myself, I can’t. This place, these people—everything is shifting, and I don’t know where I fit anymore.
I don’t even really know what’s going on, only that it feels dangerous.
I didn’t come here for this. For them. For any of it.
As we stop in the parking lot outside The Hollow, my stomach churns. I know that sounds ridiculous because it’s just a bar, right? But there’s something about it that feels more than just a business. It’s a fortress—they’ve built something that’s meant to keep people in or keep them out.
Either way, I don’t know where I fit in.
The low hum of voices from inside leaks out through the open door. It’s warm, welcoming, but there’s something guarded about it.
Ryder slams his truck door, clearly angry at the world, specifically, whatever’s going on in that head of his. Finn mumbles something under his breath about checking the outside of the bar, then disappears with his hands stuffed into his pockets.
Great.
We walk toward the entrance, and as soon as I step inside, I’m hit with a mix of warmth. It smells of whiskey and cedarwood. The kind of place that doesn’t need to try to be homey. It just is. But it doesn’t feel like a home I’d find myself in.
When I see Zane, he’s standing by the bar, his presence calming and silent. He doesn’t need to say a word. His stillness speaks volumes, and I can feel him taking in everything, even without moving.
He glances over at us, his eyes flicking between Ryder and me. That small smile of his is there, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He’s waiting. Watching. But in a way that makes me feel he’s already decided what’s happening, even before I know what’s going on.
Ryder’s the first to speak, and he doesn’t waste time. He’s all business. “Zane, we’ve got a situation.”
Zane doesn’t move, doesn’t even flinch. “What happened?”
Ryder glances at me, then back at Zane. “Someone’s after Aurora. I think she was seen with Finn, which puts her in danger. We’ve got tire tracks, a truck idling outside her cabin, and a damn window latch out of place. I’m not taking any chances.”
I freeze. I didn’t expect any of this. I came here to find peace, to get away from the past. But now? I’m caught in a mess that I can’t shake off.
Zane’s gaze shifts to me now, his eyes sharp. “You think it’s someone local?”
Ryder shrugs, frustrated. “I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. Someone’s seen her with Finn, which puts her at risk. She’s not staying alone tonight.”
I open my mouth to argue, to tell them this is all overblown, but Ryder doesn’t even look at me. His eyes are locked on Zane, like he’s already got everything figured out.
I want to speak up, but I don’t know how. I’m standing here, caught between what I want to say and what I know they’ve already decided for me.
