I won’t rest until I put him there.

Running to a private island looks better every day.

I run my thumb absentmindedly over the back of her hand. It’s a simple gesture meant to comfort her, but it feels too intimate. Too close.

I can’t ignore the way my body reacts to her presence, how every part of me wants to pull her closer, to kiss her again, to fall into her all over again.

But I can’t. Not now. Not after everything that’s happened.

What if the security guard hadn’t been there? What if they hadn’t caught the propped door, and he barged in and shot us both?

She’s been through hell. The crash, the stalker. The fear that’s been gripping her for so long.

I need to keep her safe; that’s where both of our focuses should be.

We get too caught up with each other, otherwise.

“I should make a few calls,” I say softly, pulling away from her, though it takes more willpower than I’d like to admit. “I need to check in with security, make sure everything’s set for tonight.”

She looks up at me, confusion flickering in her eyes. “Right now? Can’t it wait?”

Her voice is soft, almost pleading, and it tears at me. But I have to keep my distance. If I stay here, next to her, feeling the warmth of her body, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop myself.

And she deserves more than that. More than me letting my desires take control when she’s vulnerable.

“I just need a few minutes,” I tell her, offering a small smile. “I’ll be quick. You should try to rest.”

She hesitates, then nods slowly. “Okay.”

I rise from the couch, ignoring the ache in my chest as I leave her behind. I walk down the hallway toward the bathroom; when I get inside, I shut and lock the door.

I grip the front of the sink as I look at myself in the mirror.

I need to get it together.

I undress. I turn on the tap, fill the tub with icy water, and then step in, the ice-cold shock hitting me like a punch to the gut. It’s exactly what I need.

The sharp sting of the water helps clear my head, pushing away the thoughts of Grace, of her soft skin, and the way her lips felt against mine.I close my eyes, sinking deeper into the icy water, trying to focus on anything else. But it’s impossible. All I can think about is her. The way she looks at me, the trust in her eyes, even after everything.

She’s been through so much.

Once the chill has seeped deep into my bones, numbing me completely, I climb out of the tub and grab a towel. I needto focus on what really matters—finding the man who’s been terrorizing her.

I dress quickly, then head straight to my office, locking the door behind me. I sit at my desk, staring at the screen in front of me, but my mind keeps drifting back to Grace.

I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts away.

Focus, Theo.

I pull up the security reports on the stalker. There’s not much to go on—just a few blurry photos, some dead-end leads, and a lot of frustration.

But I need to figure this out. I need to know who this man is and why he’s after her.

Why is he so hard to catch?

After a few minutes of scrolling through reports, I grab my phone and call Devon. He answers on the second ring.

“Theo,” he greets me, his voice steady. “You doing okay?”