Page 187 of California Wild

Caiden’s voice dipped lower, but Jesse still caught every word.

“Are you wearing size 11 men’s shoes now?”

Silence.

Tension laced the air so thick it felt suffocating.

“Tell me you’re not back with him,” Caiden said, his voice cutting like glass. “Tell me something… anything.”

More silence.

Jesse was already moving.

“Unbelievable,” Caiden bit out. “You’re really doing this. You’re really fucking him again.” His voice sharpened, seething. “He’s a piece of shit addict. A diseased street rat. What has he got over you?”

Hayley’s voice was sharp, warning. “Caiden, stop.”

But he was already spiraling, words laced with poison.

“No, you stop,” Caiden snapped, voice rising. “You are making the biggest fucking mistake of your life, and you know it. You are throwing away your future for some junkie who would sell you out for a hit of heroin.”

Jesse had him against the wall in seconds.

A breath. A blink. And then Caiden’s back hit the wall, Jesse’s forearm pinning him hard, chest heaving, body vibrating with barely contained fury.

“Say that again.” Jesse’s voice was a low, lethal growl. “Fucking say it again.”

Caiden looked between them now, eyes darting.

Hayley, still in Jesse’s t-shirt, looking breathless and flushed. Jesse, shirtless, bruised, dangerous.

And Caiden made his call.

His voice was ice. Calculated.

“I see a woman, disheveled, who’s been crying.” His gaze flicked to Jesse. “I see a man, bruised, who’s clearly been in a fight. I see an addict holding onto his last thread of hope.” His eyes locked back onto Hayley. “I see a woman throwing away her entire fucking life because she is being abused, manipulated, and exploited by the monster she can’t stay away from.”

Hayley let out a sharp breath. “Caiden, I am asking you as a friend—”

But Jesse had already snapped.

With one sharp shove, he threw Caiden back, releasing him, chest still rising and falling with rage.

“Get the fuck out.” Jesse’s voice was dark. Deadly. Final.

Caiden looked between them one last time. His face twisted with anger. With something like betrayal. “I’ll never work with you again, Hayley. Never. You are a childish, selfish mess of a person.”

Then—he turned.

And walked out.

The door slammed behind him.

Silence fell like a hammer.

Jesse was still breathing hard, his hands clenched at his sides.

And then—

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