The Taste of Trouble

The pounding on the door didn't stop.

Each knock was louder than the last, rattling through the walls, through my chest, through the air that had been thick with something else just seconds ago.

Ethan's body was still pressed against mine, his hands still gripping my waist.

But the fire that had threatened to consume us had been replaced by something colder.

Something that made my stomach twist.

"Ethan," I whispered.

He didn't move.

Didn't speak.

Just stood there, his jaw tight, his eyes dark with something I didn't understand yet.

The knock came again. Harder. Meaner.

Ethan exhaled sharply. Then let me go.

I swallowed, stepping back as he turned toward the door.

And I knew.

Whatever was on the other side?

It wasn't good.

Ethan opened the door slowly, his body shifting to block my view.

That only made my pulse race faster.

Because if he was shielding me, it meant he didn't want me to see who it was.

I moved before I could think, stepping beside him.

And that's when I saw him.

The man standing in the doorway was tall, built like a fighter, with a scar that cut down the side of his jaw.

He looked at Ethan. Then at me.

And smirked.

"Didn't mean to interrupt," the guy said, his voice low and slow, like he was enjoying this way too much.

Ethan's shoulders tensed. "What do you want, Jax?"

Jax.

The name sent a shiver down my spine.

Because I'd heard it before.

I'd heard it in the whispered conversations Ethan never wanted me to hear.

I'd heard it in the warnings—stay away from Ethan Carter.

And now?

Now he was standing right in front of me.

Jax's eyes flickered back to me, amusement dancing in his gaze.

"Didn't know you had company, Carter," he mused. "That makes this more interesting."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Leave her out of this."

Jax tilted his head. "Can't do that."

A cold feeling settled in my chest.

Because suddenly, I realized—

This wasn't just about Ethan anymore.

This was about me.

Jax leaned against the doorframe, completely relaxed.

Like he wasn't standing in the middle of Ethan's house, in the middle of the night, delivering what felt like a warning.

"You've been hard to track down," Jax said. "Been keeping quiet lately."

Ethan didn't respond.

Jax sighed dramatically. "Problem is, some people? They don't like it when you disappear."

Ethan's hands clenched into fists.

"And you know what happens when people get impatient," Jax continued, his gaze cutting to me. "They start looking for ways to get your attention."

My blood ran cold.

Because this wasn't just a conversation.

This was a threat.

Ethan moved faster than I could react.

One second, he was standing beside me.

The next, he had Jax shoved against the doorframe, his arm pressed hard against the guy's throat.

"Don't." Ethan's voice was low, dangerous. "Don't bring her into this."

Jax just grinned.

Like he enjoyed it.

Like Ethan losing control was exactly what he wanted.

"That's up to you, Carter." His voice was calm. Too calm. "You know how this works."

Ethan's grip tightened.

I took a step forward. "Ethan—"

His muscles tensed under my touch.

But slowly, his grip loosened.

Jax stepped back, adjusting his jacket, still grinning like this was all a game.

"See you around," he said. Then he turned and walked into the night, disappearing like a ghost.

But his words?

They stayed.

The second the door shut, Ethan turned.

"We need to talk."

I crossed my arms. "No. You need to talk."

He exhaled sharply. "Liv—"

"No." I took a step forward, anger rising to the surface. "You don't get to keep shutting me out."

His jaw tightened. "It's not that simple."

I let out a bitter laugh. "No, Ethan. It's exactly that simple."

His eyes flashed. "You don't understand—"

"Then make me understand."

Silence.

A heavy, suffocating silence.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.

"This isn't a game, Liv." His voice was quieter now. Rougher. "These people—they don't play fair."

I swallowed. "And I do?"

His gaze locked onto mine. "You should."

I hated how much my heart twisted at that.

Because I knew what he meant.

He wanted me to walk away.

To choose safety over him.

But the problem?

I couldn't.

Ethan sighed. "I don't want you in this."

I exhaled sharply. "You don't get to decide that."

His fists clenched at his sides. "You think I don't know that?"

I stared at him. "Then stop trying to push me away."

His throat worked as he swallowed.

Then—

He shook his head. "I can't."

My chest ached.

I turned away, grappling for air.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to grab him and force him to stop pretending he didn't want this too.

But the problem with Ethan Carter?

He was too good at shutting people out.

And I was too exhausted to fight it anymore.

So, I did the only thing I could.

I walked away.

I barely made it to my car before my phone buzzed.

An unknown number.

My stomach dropped.

I swiped the screen, hesitating for only a second before reading the message.

Unknown Number: You should have stayed away.

My breath hitched.

Then—

A second message.

Unknown Number: Now it's too late.

I swallowed hard, my pulse skidding out of control.

Because suddenly, I realized—

Jax's warning?

It wasn't just about Ethan.

It was about me.

And I had just run out of time.

Jax delivers a chilling warning—Ethan's past is now Liv's problem.

Ethan tries to push Liv away for her safety, but she refuses to leave.

Liv receives a threatening text—she's officially a target.

The danger gets real, and Liv is forced to fight for her life.