Broken Beginnings: A High Heat Small Town Romance Suspense (Citrus Cove Book 1)

I STORMED INTO THE HOSPITAL. Hunter tried to keep up with me, but even with his long legs, it was difficult for him.

Bud was already standing at the reception desk, and I marched right up to him, seething. Very few things brought my mean streak out, but I was done.

“If you don’t find this son of a bitch, I am going to⁠—”

Bud grabbed my shoulders, his voice firm. “We got him.”

Everything in me deflated. “You got him?”

“We got Andy,” Bud said again. “He’s in custody. And we’ll talk in a bit, Haley.”

“Haley,” Hunter said, his voice gruff.

I was about to lose it. I could feel myself unraveling, a spool of thread let loose. Hunter steered me away, leading me down one of the halls. He paused, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“Take a deep breath,” he said.

The look I gave him made him wince.

“He’s still passed out,” Hunter said. “They stitched up the knife wound. It missed anything vital, but he lost a lot of blood. But he’s alive, Haley.”

“How can you be so calm?” My voice trembled. “This is all my fault.”

“It isn’t,” Hunter growled. “Haley, I swear this isn’t your fault.”

“Hey.”

We both looked up, seeing Sammy and his mom rushing toward us.

“I’m so sorry,” I blurted out, my voice breaking. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Harlow⁠—”

“Oh, honey,” she said. “This isn’t your fault, darlin’. Come here.”

My eyes teared up, and she spread her arms, pulling me into a big hug.

“Oh, baby doll,” she said, holding on to me as I started to sob. “Cam has told me some of what you’ve gone through. You’re stronger than me. No one blames you for what happened, but this isn’t your fault, and don’t you go thinking so.”

I didn’t even know this woman, but the instant comfort I felt broke me. I held on to her as I fell apart.

“Hunter, go get her some water.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Hunter responded, disappearing.

I felt Sammy’s hand on my shoulder and drew back, wiping my eyes. “I’m so sorry. Fuck. I’m a mess. Hunter got that text from Cam, and then you just happened to call Sammy, and I just—I can’t lose him. I can’t. I can’t,” I repeated.

The tears wouldn’t stop.

“He’s tough,” she said. “And the doctor said he’ll be okay. My husband is waiting for them to let us all into his room once he’s out. He knows the surgeon here.”

Hunter came back with a Styrofoam cup of water and handed it to me.

“They caught Andy,” Hunter told her and Sammy.

“Good. I want that son of a bitch behind bars,” she said, her voice taking on a fierce edge. “Also, you can call me Lynn,” she directed to me.

“Thank you,” I said, taking the cup and drinking. “I’m Haley. I’m sorry I haven’t come for dinner yet.”

“Don’t be,” she said, patting my arm. “We’ll have plenty of time for that.”

I needed to pull myself together. I drew in a breath, mentally steeling myself with every sip. By the time the water was gone, I could breathe again.

I hadn’t lost him.

That was the most important thing.

I drew in another breath right as a nurse came toward us, the same one that attended to me the other day. She winced when she saw me.

“I’m starting to get used to seeing you here,” she said.

“Unfortunately,” I sighed. I wiped my eyes again, trying to pull myself together. Hell, I’d had a lot of practice doing so over the last few weeks. “I mean, not unfortunate to see you, but being here.”

She smiled. “Well, I have good news for y’all. He’s out and doing fine. Dad’s already sitting with him. He’s starting to wake up.”

“Good,” Hunter said. “Thank you.”

She nodded and turned, pointing down the hall. “He’s in the room down on the right. He might be a little out of it.”

I was already moving. I practically ran down the hall, stopping when I came to the doorway.

Cam’s eyes were open. He turned his head and grinned when he saw me. “There’s my wife,” he said proudly.

My knees felt weak.

His dad snorted and came toward me. I could see where his sons got their looks. He winked. “Hey, Haley. I’m Bob. I’m gonna hold off the troops and give you two a moment.”

“Thanks. It’s so nice to meet you. I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances.”

“He gave us all a scare, but he’s tough.”

I went to Cameron’s side, the tears falling again. His face was covered in bruises and he was definitely out of it, but he was alive. The idea of losing him and knowing that I hadn’t changed something in me.

He looked horrified at the tears.

“Fuck,” he sighed. “Yeah, I was an idiot.”

“Yeah, you were. What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking I could catch the killer and we could live happily ever after, Hal.”

I shook my head and sniffled, leaning down and planting a kiss on his forehead. “Please don’t ever scare me like this again.”

“I’ll try not to,” he said.

I closed my eyes and kissed his forehead again before grabbing one of the chairs and dragging it to him. I sat down, my hand sliding into his.

He squeezed it. “I kept thinking while I was laying there that that was it. That was my end. I was going to die without ever telling you the truth.”

“The truth?” I whispered.

“I love you. I love you so fucking much. I want to marry you. I want to make love to you.”

“Cam,” I hissed. “You’re on drugs.”

“I might be, but I’m telling you, I love you more than anything else and I was a dumbass for not telling you sooner. I could have died without telling you.”

I didn’t fight the tears this time. “I love you too,” I whispered. “So much. So fucking much.”

He grinned, giving my hand another squeeze. “I want a big wedding.”

“Oh my god,” I snorted. “Alright, mister. You are too drugged up for this right now.”

Cam shrugged and his smile faded. “I think he was the killer. He killed that woman, Hal. I think it’s finally over.”

I breathed out. “You really think it was him?”

“We’ll have to see what they say. But whoever killed her left those words on your car. It had to be him. That’s why he was trying to get you to go with him.”

“Don’t worry about any of that right now,” I whispered. “I’ll talk to Bud later. Okay? But for now, stop worrying.”

A soft knock interrupted the two of us “Alright, the troops would like in, if that’s okay.”

I looked up at the doorway, Cameron’s dad standing there. “Of course,” I said.

Everyone came in. Cameron rolled his eyes as Lynn yelled at him about being the hero. His brothers kissed the top of his head, and followed it up by giving him the finger.

“When you’re better, I’m gonna fight you for scaring the shit out of me,” Hunter said, crossing his arms. “And scaring your girl.”

Cam chuckled and then sighed. “How’s the winery?”

Everyone was silent. He winced.

“We can rebuild,” Hunter said.

“You have insurance, but if push comes to shove, we could do a fundraiser,” I said.

“That’s a good idea,” Sammy said. “Raise some funds to build it back.”

Cameron’s eyes softened. His hand was still in mine, and he gripped it a little harder. “It was the family barn. It’s been around for a long time, and now it’s fucking gone.”

My heart hurt for him.

“It was just a building,” Lynn said, her voice firm. “I’m thankful that you got out. Today could have been a lot more tragic.”

“I just don’t know how I didn’t hear him.” Cam sighed. “I was watching footage of the night he killed that woman.”

“So it was him?” Sammy asked.

“Maybe? I think so,” Cam said.

I pressed my lips together and slowly pulled my hand from his. “I’m going to go talk to Bud.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I’ll go with you,” Hunter said. “Colt is on the way, by the way.”

“Figures,” Cam said. “You’d think I’d died.”

His mom hissed at him. I kissed his forehead as she started to scold him, then slipped out of the room and into the cool hall. Hunter followed, the two of us heading back toward the front, where Bud still was.

“Why are you here?” I asked him as I walked up.

“I need to talk to Cam,” Bud said seriously. I’d only seen him a handful of times, but right now, he looked like he’d aged fifteen years. “But wanted to give y’all some time.”

“Tell us what’s going on,” Hunter said.

Bud looked like he was going to hold back, but then gave in. “We have him in custody. He did admit to killing that woman but claims he’s never been to Baltimore and says that something in him snapped that night. He did, however, have pictures of you, Haley, where he was staying. But they were all photos from your social media accounts.”

My blood ran cold. Hunter crossed his arms, giving me a reassuring glance. “We have lawyers.”

“Do we?” I echoed.

“Yep.”

Bud chuckled, giving me an apologetic look. “Your boyfriend’s brother seems to know everyone in the whole damn world sometimes.”

“I’ve got connections,” Hunter said, shrugging. “So he’s the killer, then.”

“He hasn’t admitted to anything else and claims he hadn’t heard of Haley prior to running into her at the bar.”

I shook my head, my gut twisting. It still didn’t feel right.

“I think it’s him though. I really do,” Bud said. “He’s new to Citrus Cove. He claimed he was a jeweler, but his business is bankrupt. Sounds like he’s been running around and avoiding paying fines and taxes. And he killed Darlene. It all makes sense.”

“Maybe I’m just unable to accept it right now,” I whispered, my thoughts whirling.

“Probably,” Hunter said. “You’ve been through a lot, Haley.”

I nodded, frowning. Was that it, then? Was Andy really the person who followed me from Baltimore? Who killed my neighbor and then threatened me? Who destroyed my apartment?

“I think if Cam is feeling okay, I might try to talk to him. I’d just like to confirm what happened.”

“You can try,” Hunter said. “I can take you to the room.”

Bud nodded. “Thanks. Oh, and I reached out to Baltimore. They actually got some footage, so we should be able to confirm everything soon. You can rest easy, Haley.”

“I’ll join y’all in a few minutes,” I said, giving Hunter and Bud a nod.

Hunter hesitated but then gave in, the two of them heading down the hall.

I just needed a moment to myself. I darted the opposite way, running for the bathroom. I pushed open the door and went into a stall, slamming it shut. My heart hammered in my chest, my head spinning.

Breathe. Breathe.

I forced myself to take in deep breaths, swallowing back the tears. For a moment, I relived everything.

That night in Baltimore.

What he said to me.

You’re next.

Coming here. The text messages, the picture of Cam and me. My apartment.

The murder. The car.

I’d lost almost everything because of this person.

Breathe.

My heart rate finally started to come down. I opened my eyes, feeling a heavy exhaustion fall over me.

We were finally free of the monster that had been trying to kill me.