Page 45 of The Scout

I swallowed hard, staring out at the inky water, the streetlights reflecting off its surface like shattered glass. I hadn’t realized it had been that long. Time had seemed to warp and bend in wicked ways. I only knew that it wasstill dark outside. I knew I couldn’t face going home to my apartment.

“My brother is worried sick, desperate to find you,” Marcus added. “He might not admit it or use those words, but it’s true.”

Of course, he was. Of course, Ryker fucking Dane had the entire city searching for me. Because that’s who he was. The man who never let things slip through his fingers. The man who always hunted what was his.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be found.

The hours had slipped away, swallowed by the heavy silence of the harbor, the rhythmic creak of the swing beneath me, and Marcus’ quiet presence at my side. Even through my haze of exhaustion, I could see that it wasn’t morning yet. Not even close.

I wasn’t ready to go home. I wasn’t ready to be alone in my apartment, staring at my phone, waiting for answers that might never come. I wasn’t ready to sleep, because sleep meant dreaming, and I couldn’t bear the thought of dreaming about Will being gone.

I needed to go somewhere.

Marcus must have sensed it before I even said a word. He straightened from his easy slouch, stretching his arms over his head in a way that made his tanned skin flex, catching the dim light. Relaxed but strong. Different from Ryker’s coiled intensity—Marcus had the kind of confidence that came from knowing he could handle himself but didn’t have to prove it to anyone.

His easy smirk reappeared as he glanced at me, like he was trying to lighten the weight between us. “Ready to head back?”

I hesitated, chewing on the inside of my cheek. I was due at work in the morning. I should have been getting in my car, heading home to rest and change,preparing myself to stand behind the front desk at The Palmetto Rose like my world hadn’t just imploded.

But I wasn’t going in. I couldn’t.

“My car is still in the lot at The Sound Barn,” I said instead, like that was the only thing keeping me from returning to normal.

“I’ll take you.”

I should have said yes. It made sense. But the idea of walking back into that parking lot, of seeing the place where Ryker had grabbed me, kissed me, touched me like he owned me, made something inside me twist.

I shook my head before I could second-guess it.

“No,” I said instead. Too fast. Too sure.

Marcus’ smirk faltered, just slightly. “No?”

I inhaled deeply, my fingers gripping the edges of the swing, and made a decision I wasn’t entirely sure I understood yet.

“Take me to Dominion Hall.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, just studied me like he was trying to figure out my angle. His light eyes—blue like the Carolina sky—narrowed slightly, flicking over my face, searching.

Whatever he was looking for, he didn’t find it.

Instead, he exhaled through his nose and nodded. “All right.”

The drive was quiet.

I leaned against the passenger window, watching the city blur past, my body aching with exhaustion but my mind still too wired, too raw to let it claim me. Marcus didn’t push, didn’t ask questions, didn’t even turn on theradio. He just drove, the silence between us not uncomfortable, but heavy.

By the time we pulled through the gates of Dominion Hall, I felt a little better about things. The place looked different now—less ominous, somehow. Almost beautiful. But that didn’t change what it was.

A fortress. A kingdom built for men who didn’t play by the rules.

Marcus put the car in park, drumming his fingers once against the steering wheel before turning toward me. “You sure about this?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

His gaze flicked toward the house, then back to me. “You’re not gonna go running off again, are you? Because I swear to God, Izzy, if I have to track you down a second time?—”

I huffed out a small, tired laugh. “No running. I promise.”

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