“You were moving in. Even back then. How in the hell could I have been so blind?”
“I never made a move on her while you guys were together.”
“You knew how much I loved her.” James’s voice broke halfway through the statement.
Just for a moment, Eric felt a hint of doubt, but it vanished when he remembered the way James had been kissing Tori.
“You’re in love with the idea of what you had.”
“Don’t even try and psychoanalyze me, you piss-poor excuse for a best friend. You’re fucking my girlfriend.”
“Ex,” Eric yelled, slapping the steering wheel. “Wake up, James. She’s your ex-girlfriend and has been for a half a year now.”
James didn’t reply. A quick sideways glance showed his friend’s jaw rigid and brows furrowed.
There was no reasoning with him right now. The man was clearly upset, and Eric really couldn’t blame him. This wasn’t how he’d wanted his friend to find out.
“Turn right at the next light,” James said flatly. “Looks like she’s going to The Cove.”
“That pricey, overrated restaurant on the water?”
“It’s an icon that’s been around since the seventies, but yes, that one. The food’s amazing.”
“I wouldn’t know,” Eric muttered.
A few minutes later, they pulled up to the small road that led to the water where The Cove restaurant was located. An electric gate was down across the road, with a note attached that said the restaurant was closed for a private event.
“You sure she’s here?” James cast him a skeptical look.
“According to the app on her phone, she is.”
Unease seared down Eric’s spine as he guided the car off to the shoulder of the road and parked.
He reached under his seat and pulled out the gun he’d stashed there recently.
James recoiled. “What the fuck? How long have you had that?”
“A few years now. It’s only been recently that I’ve started to realize I may need it.” He gave his friend a pointed glance. “This guy bugging Hannah is bad news. I’ll walk down to the restaurant to see if I can find her.”
“I’ll come with you. You might need my help.”
James was out of the car with him before Eric could protest. They both squeezed around the opening at the end of the fence and continued down the tree-lined road.
They’d only taken a few steps when a sharp scream ripped through the trees.
James froze. “Oh my god. That’s Hannah.”
The swift heat of terror raced through Eric’s blood as they both set off into a dead run.
As they rounded the corner, Hannah and Wentworth came into view near the entrance to the restaurant.
Hannah screamed again as she drove her foot into Wentworth’s stomach in a sidekick.
Good job, baby. Keep fighting him.
The kick slowed Wentworth and he stumbled back, giving her a second to run. But before she’d taken more than a few steps, he was on her again. This time with an arm around her throat.
“Let her go,” Eric yelled the command, moving closer and lifting the gun.