Chapter 3

Arrick flinched with the cold pulse that ran through him, anxiety and fear colliding with every worst-case scenario in his head. He tried her cell again quickly but got nothing but her answering machine, cursing out loud this time.

He would lecture her and shake the shit out of her when he got there. No doubt he’d have to carry her out like last weekend, and this time he was sitting her down for a serious heart-to-heart. He was done with whatever this was. Done with the drunken calls, putting herself in constant danger, the argumentative stroppy behavior, and difficult attitude of late. He understood that her past sometimes meant she was hard to handle. Even at her best, she had always been hard to handle, but this lately was beyond a joke. His nerves couldn’t take much more of this, and his relationship with Natasha was falling to pieces because of it.

Tonight, she was coming home with him and sobering up to get the third degree. Enough was enough; if anyone could get t