She let go of her wrist, and I leaned against the sink, keeping my focus on her. “It didn’t go,” I told Jax. “My stubborn, headstrong little vixen agreed to meet with the bastard. And get this—you’re gonna love this—she helped him escape.”

“Well,” he said, barely containing a snort.

“Sound fucking familiar?”

“Hey man, I’m with her on this. You went off the rails, and she wasn’t even around to see how bad it got.”

“Part of that was your fault.”

“Why do you think I’m so fucked up over this?” Jax practically shouted, so loud even Alex heard him. “That’s why I’m back, even though I should be all over this lead. I’m here to make sure you get the fuck out of there.”

“We tried taking off right after you called. Nate and his buddy stopped us, and Shelton took my gun tonight too.”

“What about the piece you lifted from Alex’s house the night you grabbed her?”

“I got rid of it, so until an opportunity opens, we’re stuck.”

“You’re still hoping to finish what you started. That’s what you’re really saying, right?” Jax sighed. “Let me guess. Shelton’s looking for Zach as we speak.”

“Something like that.”

“You stubborn fool.” The click of a lighter sounded. Jax only chain-smoked when he was stressed. “I’ll take care of the idiots in the Escalade. Give me fifteen. I’ll call you.” The line went dead.

“Fuck.” I jammed my cell into the pocket of my jeans. He was getting into the habit of hanging up on me, and I didn’t like it.

“What’s going on?” Alex asked.

“Jax is up to something. He said to be ready in fifteen.”

She stood and glanced down at the sweatshirt that nearly swallowed her whole.

“Get dressed,” I said. “Wear something warm with layers.” For all I knew, the bag in my truck had grown legs and walked off. Hopefully, no one had messed with it, but we might be stuck with nothing more than the clothes on our backs, at least for a few days.

While Alex disappeared into the bedroom to dress, I pulled out our coats and flung them onto the sofa, then raided the drawers in the galley in search of a pocketknife.

Fuck, I’d miss this boat. The first day I set foot in the area, I happened to stumble upon a guy wanting to sell it. I’d had the cash, and something about the craft called to me. Maybe the idea of living on water was just…familiar. The only comforting thing I’d allowed myself to cling to back then. But it was time to lay that part of my life to rest. The boat would become an abandoned casualty of circumstance.