Chapter 1
Dixie
The speedboat cut through the waves, and I clung to my seat with every one of my sparkly-tipped fingers. At the controls, my kidnapper watched the water, following some invisible directions to wherever he was taking me.
Tyler.
A shock. A friend. Or so I thought.
I hunched in on myself, the wind whipping so hard it rat-tailed my hair and cut through my pleather jacket, freezing me to the bone.
I shook.
Not just from the weather, but from a state of delusion. A cray-cray bubble of happiness. I hadn’t felt anything good in weeks, but at the appearance of the huge crew leader, I was a doe-eyed doll. All gooey-centred and soft. I’d thought about him. Magicked him up to the frozen Scottish island where I’d been hiding.
And he’d snatched me from the beach.
What was a little abduction between friends? My injured heart didn’t give the tiniest damn.
That should’ve scared me the most.
Tyler twisted to me, then his eyebrows dove together and he slowed the boat. The wall of noise and wind ceased, letting me hear his deep voice.
“You’re cold.”
It was the first words he’d said since we’d set out. Conversation had been impossible. I hadn’t even cared to ask what was going on. Caring might crack open something I didn’t have the strength to handle.
“Here.”
He unzipped his coat and draped it around my shoulders, the black material swamping me but instant warmth bringing me back to life.
I hated how fast my body softened.
Trauma brain. Attachment brain. Whatever it was, it purred like a kitten.
The ghost of a smile lifted his lips, then he tore his gaze away and got us going again, across the grey-blue sea. I brought my knees into the coat and zipped it up around me, my hair under the collar and safe from the breeze.
Ghost. That was his crew name. Though I didn’t have the teeniest clue how he’d earned it, it worked for how he was spiriting me away. My insides gave another joyful squeeze.
He was massive with thick muscles. Probably early thirties. Close-cropped dark-blond hair. Serious in everything he did. A total boss babe but with a flash of kindness and humour underneath.
Tyler was so nice to look at. I’d always thought that whenever I saw him around the warehouse, when I had no reason to be cautious.
What the hell was wrong with me now?
Since I’d left Deadwater, I’d been so lonely. I’d missed laughing with my friends. The sexy dancers. The dangers of the skeleton crew. I missed city lights and takeaway food. Almosteverything, except the clients. I couldn’t bring myself to love the stark beauty of the Hebridean islands where I’d fled to stay with my mother. I snorted a laugh, burying my face in Tyler’s coat. Mum wouldn’t be sorry to see the back of me. With my precision makeup and fake titties, I’d scandalised her neighbours.
A sourer thought curdled my belly.
Right before Tyler had appeared, two things had happened. I’d read a headline when I’d been seeking out glimpses of home. The Marchant family were all over the news after being associated with people trafficking. That sank in me heavy, too many memories scurrying around my brain.
Once upon a time, I’d been a part of that family. It was over fast, but it shaped my life for the worst in every way. Then, when I’d been staring at my screen and reeling, a ferry had approached the island, bringing with it a familiar figure hanging over the railings—my friend Lovelyn. But also a man I didn’t know. A brick shithouse of a guy who terrified me. A guy who’d sent me running from my last hiding place.
My safe haven was blown open.
It was no coincidence that they’d come for me. Lovelyn was the sweetest girl. She would’ve looked for me for my sake.
Mr Shithouse must have coerced her into helping him. Either by threat or fake promises. I prayed he wouldn’t hurt her when they found me gone.
