Page 186 of California Wild

Fuck.

He looked at Hayley, her wide eyes flashing to his.

Neither of them moved.

Another knock. Louder this time.

Jesse exhaled hard, jaw clenching, already reaching for his jeans.

Something wasn’t right.

And he was about to find out what.

Jesse sat on the edge of the bed, one foot braced against the floor, his muscles locked tight as the knocking came again—louder this time.

Hayley exhaled sharply, already tugging on the oversized band tee Jesse had stripped off her earlier. It hung off her frame, slipping down one shoulder as she ran a hand through her tangled auburn hair, barely bothering to fix it. She shot him a look, somewhere between frustration and nerves, then turned toward the door.

Jesse stayed where he was, quickly getting dressed, his whole body was on high alert. Something wasn’t right. And if whoever was at that door thought Hayley was alone and vulnerable, they were fucking wrong.

Hayley barely had the door open before a man’s voice shot through the apartment, sharp, urgent, cutting through the air like a blade.

“Are you okay? What’s going on? You look sick.”

Jesse clenched his jaw so tight it ached.

That fucking accent. That pitch. That asshole.

Caiden.

Hayley exhaled, already sounding exhausted. “I’m fine, Caiden—”

But he didn’t let her finish.

“Have you been crying? Why are your eyes red?”

“Please—”

“You didn’t answer anyone this morning,” Caiden snapped, stepping closer. “Pure Studio expected you at 7:30. You don’t remember our writing session with Coldtrain?”

Jesse’s hands curled into fists at his sides.

From his spot in the bedroom, he couldn’t see the guy, but he could hear everything. And it was taking everything in him not to charge out there and end this right now.

Hayley’s voice was sharp, defensive. “You didn’t need to show up. I’m fine. I just slept in. I’m not feeling well.”

“Are you serious?” Caiden’s voice was getting more agitated. “You disappear, miss a huge session, don’t answer your calls, your texts—what was I supposed to do? Sit around and wait for the cops to roll out your body bag?”

“Wow. Dramatic,” Hayley muttered, shifting her weight. “I needed rest.”

Caiden scoffed. “Rest? Jesus, Hayley, that’s what you’re calling it? This is not like you. I know you. You are never late.”

Then Jesse saw it.

His shoes.

Right there. By the front door.

Fucking rookie mistake.

---