Page 163 of Risky Passion

Giving those women a peaceful ending felt right somehow—letting them finally be free to find peace in the vastness of the ocean. I hoped we could do the same for Charlotte one day. Or better yet, find her alive. That was the miracle we all prayed for.

Whitney smirked at me, shifting gears with a sly grin. “So, now that you’ve finished searching for bodies at Angelsong Orphanage, what are you and Onyx doing in your spare time?”

“Don’t know.” I shrugged. “But I’m heading up to Risky Shores this weekend for Maya and Zac’s wedding.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Parker winked at me. “Tory’s going to be there, isn’t she?”

“Yep.” My insides did a weird flip as I pictured her. “You sure you guys don’t want to come?” But before I even finished my question they were shaking their heads. They made up excuses about too much work, and I left it at that. And for the first time since I could remember, I was glad my brother’s weren’t tagging along. This time, it would be just me and Tory. And that felt so right. She deserved my full attention. I really liked the sound of that.

Mom stood, brushing her hands on her apron. “All right, boys, that’s enough chatter. Time for you all to get out of my way so I can clean up and get to bed.”

“Mom, we can help,” I said, rising to collect the plates.

She waved me off, as she always did. “Not tonight. Go on, I’ve got this. You know the rules.”

Parker and Whitney were discussing what teams were playing footy tomorrow night as they shuffled out of the dining room. But I lingered, catching Dad’s eye as he stood by the window, staring out into the dark. His shoulders were hunched, and his frame seemed to shrink more each week.

I walked over to him, wishing there was something I could say to pull him out of his depression. He’d been like this for years, hollow and lost, and the only cure for him was to know what happened to Charlotte. “See you next week, Dad. Love you.”

He nodded, and I strode away.

Out on the front porch, Onyx bounded up to me, her tail wagging. I crouched to give her a quick scratch behind the ears. “You behave yourself, all right?”

She let out a soft whine, nudging her nose into my palm.

“Don’t worry about her,” Mom said, stepping out and wrapping her arms around me. “We’ll take good care of her.”

I hugged Mom’s tiny frame to my chest. She was fragile, but her arms were strong around me.

As she squeezed me tightly, she said, “I can see you like Tory. Don’t let Charlotte’s ghost ruin this one.”

I froze, pulling back to search her face for clarification.

Her eyes held mine, steady and knowing. “Charlotte doesn’t need all your attention anymore, Jax,” she said, her voice gentle but firm. “Tory does. Let yourself have this, my beautiful boy.”

She tapped my cheek, her touch warm and familiar. “Before life slips by and takes this chance away from you.”

I frowned, and yet a weight also lifted off my chest. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Go. Have fun.” She stepped back, giving me a nod full of meaning. “You deserve to be happy, Jaxson. So don’t mess this up.”

As I climbed into my truck and pulled away, her words played on a loop in my head. She was right. Charlotte’s ghost didn’t need all my attention anymore.

Tory did.

I'd spent half my life digging up the past. Charlotte's disappearance had made me a detective. But Tory was awakening something that I’d been burying for years . . . the man beneath the badge.

Tory was about to meet the real me. And I was raw, hungry for her, and done with waiting.

I hope she’s ready.

CHAPTER 38

Tory

I never thoughtof myself as impatient. Turns out, I was dead wrong.

I missedLadybeetleso bad it physically hurt. But with at least four more months until my amphibious plane was replaced, I was grounded. Desk-bound. And already climbing the damn walls.

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