Page 71 of Under Control

“How much is the property?” Carrick spoke into his truck’s handsfree speaker, driving fast down the highway to make it home as soon as possible.

He’d already been a busy boy that morning and had more things to get done.

“It’s listed at a million, and you’ll share the building with a popular coffee roastery,” Kathy, his aunt and real estate agent, explained into the phone. “This is a real hot buy—and a great investment. Want to put in an offer?”

“Damn, that’s not cheap for such a small property. I knew commercial property down here was pricey, but come on,” he scoffed, stopping at a red light on the Pacific Coast Highway, looking at his hands as he gripped the steering wheel.

A few of his knuckles were cut open. And unless he was planning on wearing gloves, Danica was going to have questions about what he’d gotten up to that morning—things he didn’t want to tell her about.

Kathy continued musing on the call, “Well, you’d be able to buy it in cash if you sold—”

“Don’t.” Carrick cut his aunt off before she could continue.

“Carrick, listen… I was so happy to sell the house on Coronado island to you and Lauren, but I need to say something. Please just take this as coming from someone who loves you.” Kathy pushed, telling him things he didn’t want to hear. “The San Diego market is raging hot right now. I’ve never seen it this active down there. Your old home—and you are not even living there anymore—would sellsofast. I’ve been batting off unsolicited offers on it for a year. You are leaving big money on the table.”

He exhaled, frustrated at how pushy his aunt could be. But she was right. She was a top-tier agent and knew her shit.

“Look,” he grumbled, but pivoted. He was going to be married in a few hours and had a lot more to think about than himself. So, he just said, “I’ll figure something out. I’ll call you later.”

As Carrick flicked off the call, leaving him in silence, he thought about what had been said—and what he should do. He hadn’t stepped foot in his old place in nearly two years and was bleeding money every month to pay a property manager to deal with it. When Lauren had gotten sick, he’d lived at the hospital. When she’d died, he’d never gone back to the home they’d shared. The place had turned into a tomb—with all their stuff—all the stuff they’d bought together.

He knew he should just sell it and start fresh. It was just that in all those years, he hadn’t been able to. He’d transitioned his life from San Diego to Sunset Beach, up the coast, and never looked back.

The traffic light turned green, and he hit the gas, his thoughts turning back to Danica—the woman he’d never expected to fall into his life. He started working on logistics—getting her to city hall and getting married. Carrick was nothing if not determined, and he’d made up his mind the previous night. He was going to do something that she couldn’t do for herself. He was going to make Danica unavailable once and for all, something he’d promised Petrov and Andriy that they wouldn’t like one little bit.

As Carrick pulled up to his place in Sunset Beach, he was ready to get shit done. Today, he was killing it, securing a lifetime of Danica—which promised to be amusing at the very least.

Jumping out of his black truck in the garage, he moved swiftly into the house. Purposeful. Driven. Inside, Carrick darted his gaze left to right, like it was a damn night raid. Where was she? The place was dead quiet except for Delta in the office on a call. Intent, Carrick moved on and took the stairs up. Dani wasn’t in the living area.

What’s she doing?

Carrick immediately hit the upper stairs, taking two at a time. The door to the bedroom was closed. In that instant—he couldn’t explain why—his instincts lit on fire. He pushed open the door, revealing Danica standing by the bed. She jumped, just as surprised to see him as he was to see her. With her black backpack over her shoulder and white tennis shoes on, it was clear that she was getting ready to bolt.

“Going somewhere?” he pushed.

“Yes,” she replied, her lip quivering as he stalked closer.

Unwilling to believe the words, Carrick marched right up to her, close enough to see the camouflage glint of her eyes, feeling that familiar rising hunger for her.

“Where?” he demanded.

“Anywhere not with you.”

“How’s that?” he rumbled, merely inches from her. “It’s time for us to go get married.”

Unable to control the growl rising in his chest, he drew out their marriage license from his pocket, as if to prove how serious he really was. He pushed it into her hand for her to review its legitimacy—and come to understand that this was happening.

Whether she likes it or not.

She gazed at the marriage license and back up at him, her eyes wide and her face immediately flushed with what looked like fear. “Why would you go do this? If Andriy finds out…”

“I’ve dealt with him,” he confirmed and crossed his arms with a tone of finality.

“What?” she asked, arching her eyebrows as she watched him do so.

Reaching out, Danica grabbed his right hand, which was crossed underneath his left elbow. He realized what she had seen. Her face grew full of unease as she observed the blood on his hands for the first time. He clenched his fist, feeling how it ached. Even he was not immune to pain.

“You’re hurt,” she gasped, running her finger over the scabs on his knuckles. “Why are you hurt?”

---