The Taste of Trouble

I barely registered the cold air biting at my skin as I rushed down the street, my heart slamming against my ribs.

Ethan's voice rang in my head. Liv, wait.

But I didn't stop.

I couldn't.

Because if I stopped, I'd have to face what just happened.

What I just let happen.

Jax had caught us. Saw us.

And he had made it crystal clear that he now had leverage over Ethan.

Over me.

And still—still, I let myself fall into Ethan's arms again.

Again, and again and again.

I was a walking contradiction.

Torn between wanting to run and wanting to stay.

But tonight?

Tonight, I chose to run.

I barely made it back to my apartment before my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I didn't need to check to know who it was.

Ethan.

Calling me. Again.

I let it ring.

And ring.

Until, finally, it stopped.

I exhaled, pressing my palms against the counter, trying to steady myself.

But then—

Another buzz.

But this time, it wasn't a call.

It was a text.

From an unknown number.

Unknown Number: You should have listened.

My stomach dropped.

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around my phone as another text came through.

Unknown Number: Now you're in it, too.

My breath hitched.

And suddenly, running from Ethan wasn't the only thing I had to worry about.

I didn't sleep.

I barely moved.

I just sat there, staring at my phone, replaying the moment in my head.

Jax's smirk.

Ethan's rage.

The words I hadn't wanted to hear but knew were true.

"You're messing around with Carter? Not your best decision."

I hated that Jax was right.

Hated that I knew I should walk away, but couldn't.

Because no matter what I told myself, no matter how many times I swore I'd let Ethan go—

I never did.

And now?

Now, it wasn't just my heart on the line.

It was my safety.

A knock at my door sent a jolt through my body.

For a second, I didn't move.

Didn't breathe.

Because I knew—I just knew.

It was him.

Slowly, I stepped forward, heart hammering as I unlocked the door and pulled it open.

Ethan stood there.

Jaw tight. Eyes dark. Looking like he hadn't slept either.

"Liv."

I shook my head. "Don't."

He exhaled sharply. "You didn't answer my calls."

"I didn't want to."

His gaze flickered over me, as if he could see every single thing I was trying to hide.

"Let me in," he said quietly.

I should have said no.

I should have closed the door.

But instead—

I stepped aside.

Ethan didn't sit.

Didn't relax.

He just stood there, arms crossed, tension rolling off him in waves.

I crossed my own arms, mirroring him. "Say whatever you came to say."

His jaw ticked. "Jax isn't going to let this go."

I swallowed hard. "I know."

His eyes locked onto mine. "And yet, you ran."

I stiffened.

"You think running from me is going to fix this?" His voice was lower now, sharper. "You think ignoring my calls is going to keep you safe?"

I clenched my jaw. "I don't need you to protect me."

Ethan let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah? Then who's going to?"

I hated him in that moment.

Hated that he made me feel small, like I wasn't capable of handling my own life.

But the truth?

I hated even more that he was right.

I turned away, pressing my hands against the counter, gripping it too hard.

"I don't want this," I whispered.

I didn't mean us.

I meant all of it.

The danger. The warnings. The feeling of being trapped in something I didn't understand.

I heard him move.

And then—

His hands were on my hips, his body right behind me, his voice in my ear.

"I know," he murmured.

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Then why does it feel like I don't have a choice?"

His grip tightened.

"Because you don't."

I turned then, looking up at him, searching his face for something—anything—that would make this easier.

I found nothing.

Just him.

Just us.

Just this impossible situation we couldn't seem to escape.

Ethan exhaled.

He stepped back, running a hand through his hair, looking as exhausted as I felt.

"We need a plan," he said finally.

I scoffed. "A plan? Against a guy like Jax?"

His jaw tightened. "You're not the first person he's tried to scare."

I hesitated. "But he's serious this time."

Ethan's eyes darkened. "Yeah."

A heavy silence filled the room.

And in that silence, I realized something.

I could keep running.

Keep pretending like I wasn't in this.

Or—

I could face it.

Face him.

Face whatever this thing was between us that wouldn't go away.

I let out a slow breath.

Then, finally, I met his gaze.

"What do we do?"

Ethan's lips pressed together.

And then, with a look that sent a shiver down my spine, he said—

"We fight."

I nodded.

I didn't know what I was agreeing to.

Didn't know what came next.

But I did know one thing—

I wasn't running anymore.

And that?

That was the most dangerous choice of all.

Liv realizes running won't keep her safe—she has to fight.

Ethan refuses to let her handle this alone.

Jax's threats are getting real—there's no turning back now.

Liv and Ethan prepare for what's coming… and it might already be too late.