Page 122 of Too Safe

She’s unlike any woman I’ve ever met.

Her prickly exterior is such a contrast to the caring warmth and softness she hides. She’s infuriatingly independent. She’s also wicked funny and too smart for her own good. She doesn’t give a single shit about who I am or who I’m destined to be.

That just might be what I like most. She didn’t like me at first. Hated me, in fact. So what’s happening between us? It’s hard fought and worthwhile. It’s candid and real.

I drop my chin and focus on my phone’s screen, prepared to ask nicely and even grovel if that’s what it takes to get her onto this boat and into my arms.

When the screen lights up again, a notification is waiting for me. It’s from an unknown number with a South Chapel area code.

Unknown: Happy Shore Week, Lake Chapel bitches! We’re breaking in our new team mascot before the big game.

There’s a picture of a woman.

She’s shellshocked. Her panicked eyes are wide, as if the camera caught her by surprise. She’s a deer in the headlights, frozen in place the moment before the car hits at full speed and snuffs out her life.

Josephine.

The look on her face tells me everything I need to know. She isn’t with them willingly. She couldn’t.Wouldn’t.

“Kylian!” I roar, the urgency in my voice carrying across the water to the Sapphire yacht. His head snaps up, and he scans the boat until his eyes lock on me. I don’t have to say another word to know he’s on his way.

I’m scrolling through my contacts a moment later and hitting the name of the person I know without a shadow of a doubt is behind this.

He lets the phone ring once, twice, then a third time.

When Greedy finally answers, I bark out, “Where the fuck’s my girl?”

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