Page 175 of California Wild

“I need you,” she whispered. “I don’t care what’s happening, I don’t care if you think it’s better to stay away—I need you.”

A ragged breath tore from his chest.

More than his ribs. More than the knife wound. More than any fucking thing else—this hurt.

“I can’t do this alone.”

The voicemail ended.

Silence.

Jesse stared at the screen, blood roaring in his ears.

She thought he was gone.

His breath came fast, shallow, his heartbeat erratic and painful.

Not this time.

He shoved the phone into his pocket, pressing harder on the gas, cutting through the empty streets toward her. His vision blurred, his body running on fumes, every muscle trembling from pain and adrenaline. But none of it mattered.

Because suddenly, through the dim glow of streetlights, he saw it.

Her building.

Right there. Just beyond the next block.

His stomach twisted as something dawned on him.

He was still the same guy to her.

Still the same Jesse Navarro she’d known three years ago. The addict. The fuckup. The one who hurt her so badly she had no reason to believe he wouldn’t do it again.

Even now, with everything they’d been through, with everything he’d sworn—she didn’t trust him.

Not really.

Not in the way that mattered.

And maybe… maybe she was right.

His hands shook as he parked, his vision swimming. He shoved the door open and climbed out, his body screaming in protest as he stalked toward the entrance. The weight of it pressed into his bones, heavy and suffocating.

The knowledge that no matter how much he changed, no matter how much work he put in, he would always be the guy who left her questioning if he’d stay.

If he was strong enough to stay.

Chapter 27

The first thing Hayley registered was an arm wrapped low around her waist, palm splayed possessively over her stomach, fingertips barely moving, like they were tracing something he couldn’t name. Or didn’t know how to say.

She didn’t have to open her eyes to know who it was.

Jesse.

The breath at her neck came in slow, uneven waves. His lips hovered near her shoulder, brushing once—soft, tentative. Like a question he didn’t dare ask out loud.

Her heart slammed into her ribs.

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