Page 12 of Truck Hard

The drive home is short, but every shadow makes me jump, every passing car sends my heart racing.He’s in jail. I remind myself for the hundredth time.He can’t hurt you anymore.

But as my lawyer’s words echo in my head—we don’t want him retaliating—I can’t quite make myself believe it.

The front porch light is on when I reach the house, and through the window I can see Cam sprawled on the couch withhis handheld gaming device. The sight of him, safe and whole, helps steady my nerves. Whatever happens with the divorce, whatever Charlie might do when he finds out, I’ll handle it.

I have to.

I have my son to protect.

Just as I reach for the door handle, movement down the road catches my eye. A familiar figure steps out of the shadows of the auto shop, and even at this distance, I know he’s watching me. Watching us.

Liam.

For a moment, I’m frozen on my own front porch, pizza growing cold in my hands as our eyes meet across the darkness. There’s so much between us—so many words unsaid, so many chances missed, so many secrets kept.

Then Cameron opens the door, breaking the spell.

“Finally! I’m starving!” He grabs the pizza box from my hands, then pauses. “Mom? You okay?”

I tear my gaze away from the auto shop, forcing a smile. “Fine, honey. Just thinking.”

He gives me a look far too knowing for his twelve years. “About Dad?”

My heart clenches.Which one?The man who raised him, who hurt us both? Or the man down the road, who’s still waiting for an explanation as to why I never told him Cam is his son.

“Let’s eat,” I say instead of answering. “Before it gets cold.”

As I follow Cam inside, I can’t resist one last glance over my shoulder. But Liam is gone, swallowed by the growing darkness. Just as well. I have enough to deal with right now without stirring up old feelings and older regrets.

The divorce papers are filed.

Charlie will find out soon.

And when he does...

I close and lock the door even though it doesn’t work properly and then slide the chain in place. One good hard push and it would likely come out of the wall, but it’s the best we’ve got until Edge comes to fix it.

As I settle onto our ancient couch with my son and our cooling pizza, I can’t shake the feeling that everything is about to change. Again.

My phone buzzes, this time with a call.

Unknown number. I don’t answer it, instead letting it go to voicemail. It only takes a few moments for it to ding with a new message.

My hands shake as I check it, pizza forgotten in my lap.

I heard you’re back in town, Hannah. We need to talk.

I cringe at the sound of Charlie’s voice. Even through the phone line, his voice terrifies me. Of course he can call me from jail. Probably his parents’ doing.

The pizza turns to ash in my mouth as fear wraps its cold fingers around my throat.

He knows.

Chapter 3

Shadows of the Past

Liam

---