The Darkest Danger (Shattered Series Book 2) by Chloe D. Ashton Page A

plan, call me.” Arching a brow, he gave a knowing look. “I think it’s time that I make myself scarce. The two of you have a lot of catching, or should I say, making up to do? I’m going to bounce, dawg.”
         After making a fast goodbye, Frank departed.
         A few moments later, she heard the SUV fire up before it headed up the lone road.
         “I’m never letting you go again,” she whispered tearfully, burying her face into his chest.
         “Don’t worry. I don’t plan on going anywhere.” He smiled against her head again. “You’re stuck with me.”
         Finally, she released her death hold as she pulled back. Her tear-filled gaze met his. “You promise?”
         “It’s a promise that I never intend to break.”
         “And I’m going to hold you to that,” she murmured truthfully, and then looked up him, puzzled. “Where is this place?”
         “It’s several miles out from the estate,” Jarrod said, pulling free, and strode to the window to peer out again. Obviously satisfied that nothing was amiss, he faced her again. “It occupies a small fraction of the 300 acres that I own here at Widow’s Pointe.”
         “300 acres?” she murmured, eyes widening. “That’s a lot of area to contend with.”
         He shrugged. “I suppose it is.”
         “Hmmm…” she mulled aloud, trailing to the sofa. “Do you use this shack often?”       
         “It gets quite a good bit of use during hunting season. Other than that, it’s pretty much vacant most of the time. It’s been here for generations. When I bought the place, I didn’t have the heart to tear it down. There’s a lot of history here.”
         “Yes, I suppose it is,” she murmured, continuing the mundane conversation. “It does hold a certain bit of character.”
         But, she did know what they had to talk about.
         Yet, like him, she wanted to avoid that conversation like the plague.
         A deep silence fell in the room.
         Their gazes met within it.
         Finally, she found the courage to broach the subject.
         “We have to talk about it,” she said, tensing. “What happened with Matt?”
         “Let’s just say that I got my point across to him,” he quipped tightly, crossing the room to her. “It’s nothing that you should be worried about.”
         “Nothing that I should be worried about---how can you even stand there and say those words, Jarrod?” she said in disbelief. “You had a gun at the engagement party, and there was the possibility of violence. And let’s not forget that I’ve just spent weeks housed with a man who’s been blackmailing me nonstop.” She gave a fierce scowl. “He threatened to kill you if I didn’t leave the island. To say that I have no part in this is ridiculous.”
         “Leave it alone, Olivia---”
         “No, I won’t leave it alone,” she protested, firming her lips. “Back at the hotel, you weren’t up front with me all the way. Basically, we just skated along the surface of the situation. But, now, we’re alone. We can talk, really talk. Isn’t that what you said that we needed to do?” She folded her arms across her chest. “So, let’s talk.”
         “We will. But, not here, not right now,” he muttered roughly, looking away from her, and then released a deep sigh. “Look, it’s been a long night. We’re both exhausted---”
         “No, we’re going to discuss this,” she replied, laying a firm hand against his chest. “I want to know the truth, all of---”
         He bit back a curse as frustration seized his features. “Well, sometimes, the real truths are ugly, so much so in fact that you don’t want to even stare them in the face!”
         “What are you so afraid of?” she asked softly, stepping closer to him. Grasping his chin, she directed his gaze to hers. “Why are you running from me? You haven’t done