Page 82 of Crossroads of Love

I step up onto the porch, forcing myself to stay calm. The last thing I want is to have a friendly conversation with this man, but I don’t have a choice. I need to keep Hank talking to see if I can get more information from him.

I lean against the porch railing. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”

“Thanks.”

“I found the paperwork showing the sale, but I’m trying to figure out why he would sell it to you. This has been in my family for a century, and it’s…it’s not like my father to do something like that.”

I fold my arms across my chest, keeping my tone light.

“I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe he was having money problems.”

Hank’s eyes flicker toward me, just for a second, and I catch the briefest flash of something—defensiveness, maybe. Or guilt.

“I don’t think that’s it. Not by what I can tell anyway.”

“Your dad had been through a lot. I was just tryin’ to help where I could.”

I nod slowly, letting the silence stretch out between us. He’s lying. Obviously. But I can’t push too hard, not yet.

“Well, I appreciate that,” I say evenly. “He didn’t mention anything to you about why he wanted to sell?”

“Nope, sure didn’t.”

I push off the railing, forcing a smile. “Alright, well, I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing. Just wanted to touch base.”

Hank watches me closely as I turn to leave, his gaze heavy on my back. I can feel his eyes boring into me like he’s trying to figure out if I know more than I’m letting on.

“Gavin,” he calls out just as I reach the door.

I stop, my hand on the railing, and turn to face him. “Yeah?”

His lips twitch, almost like he’s about to smile, but it never quite reaches his eyes. “You be careful now. The world’s a dangerous place. People don’t always know what they’re getting themselves into.”

The threat buried in his words is subtle but unmistakable. My grip tightens, but I force myself to nod, keeping my expression neutral.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say.

The moment I’m back in Dad’s truck, I let out a long breath. I need to get out of here. I need to think.

As I drive away from Hank’s, my mind races.

What the hell is he up to? Why is he stalking Lena and Jayla? Is he planning something, or is this just some sick obsession?

Either way, I can’t take any chances. I need to protect them.

But one thing’s for sure: I’m not letting Hank out of my sight. From now on, I’m staying close to Lena and Jayla and making sure they’re safe. Whatever Hank’s planning, he won’t get the chance to act on it.

Not if I have anything to say about it.

Chapter Nineteen

Lena

Isit on the couch with my legs curled up beneath me. The house is quiet, except for the soft hum of the ceiling fan and the occasional rustle of Jayla flipping through her book on the armchair beside me. It’s been a peaceful day, one of those rare moments when everything feels...normal.

It’s been a long time since we’ve had normal.

I glance over at Jayla, who looks so much like her dad, with her wavy dark hair and intense, thoughtful eyes. But a part of her is all me, too—the quiet way she processes things, the sensitivity she tries to hide. It’s been weeks since Gavin and I officially started seeing each other, and Jayla’s been...quiet about it. Too quiet. It’s like she’s waiting for me to say something first, and I know I can’t put it off any longer.

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