Page 38 of Their Reluctant Catch

A flicker of a smile, but it’s weak. “His son, Danny, wasn’t as easy to win over. Thought I was just another clueless wannabe trying to play with the big boys.” I shake my head. “He made me prove myself. And when I did, he became my teacher, my mentor. Then, my friend.”

The pressure in my chest tightens.

“We worked together every day. Fixed up high-end rentals for tourists, worked on classics for collectors. It was a good life. Simple. Predictable. Until six weeks ago.”

I suck in a breath. “Two guys came in, heavily armed. Mitch was behind the counter. Danny was under a car. I was in the Aston Martin DB5, working on the engine.” My voice wavers, but I push through. “Mitch told them to take whatever they wanted. He wasn’t resisting. He was trying to talk them down.”

I curl my hands into fists against my lap. “They shot him anyway.”

The words are blunt, hard.

Todd mutters a barely audible curse under his breath.

“Danny ran toward his dad, and they shot him, too.” My voice breaks.

The garage flickers to life behind my eyes. The scent of oil and metal. The weight of my phone in my shaking hands. The way my breath sounded too loud in the confined space under the dashboard.

“I was on the phone with 911.” I blink hard, fighting the sting in my eyes. “Hiding. While they bled out.”

The words hang between us, heavy, suffocating.

“I should’ve done something,” I whisper.

Colton, silent until now, speaks. “What could you have done?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know.”

The weight in my chest sinks deeper.

“After that, I couldn’t go back. Couldn’t walk into the garage without hearing the gunshots, without seeing the blood.” I swallow. “My mom saw me falling apart. She told me to get out of Miami, to go somewhere quiet, somewhere different.”

Todd tilts his head. “So, you picked Northwick Cove?”

I huff a humorless laugh. “No. That would require actual planning.”

His brow quirks, and I roll my shoulders, exhaling.

“She had me throw a dart at a map.”

Todd blinks. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.” My lips twitch. “Landed here. Northwick Cove. Figured it was a sign or fate or some bullshit like that.”

Colton makes a noise somewhat between disbelief and amusement.

I shrug. “So, I packed a bag, booked the B&B, and got on a plane.”

Todd leans forward slightly. “You didn’t think to check what kind of town it was first?”

“Nope. Just figured anywhere would be better than Miami.” I rub a hand over my face. “Didn’t expect the lack of cell service. Or the fact that the whole town seems to know my business before I do.”

Todd grins. “Welcome to small-town living, Starling.”

The nickname doesn’t bother me as much as it should, but the moment of levity is short-lived.

Colton’s gaze is sharp. “So, what happened today?”

I close my eyes, pressing my fingers against my temple. “I went for a walk. The town is… different. Peaceful. I was enjoying it.” My lips pull tight. “Then I found the hiking trail. Decided to keep going.”

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