The Taste of Trouble

The text stared back at me, the words burning into my brain like a brand.

Unknown Number: We're not done, sweetheart.

Jax.

I felt the cold creep into my spine, my fingers tightening around my phone.

This wasn't just a warning.

It was a promise.

And I had no idea what that meant—or how much time I had before he made good on it.

For a second, I thought about calling Ethan.

But then I remembered—he had let me walk away last night.

And now?

I wasn't sure if I could walk back.

The day dragged by in a blur of silence and avoidance.

I ignored my phone.

Ignored the twisting feeling in my chest.

Ignored the fact that I was waiting. Waiting for something. For him.

But Ethan Carter didn't chase.

And I was tired of being the one who did.

So, when my shift at the bookstore ended, I did something stupid.

I went to the gym.

The second I stepped inside, I felt it.

The tension. The awareness.

The weight of his eyes on me.

I didn't have to look to know he was watching.

But I did anyway.

And there he was.

Standing in the ring, hands wrapped, sweat glistening on his skin, his entire body coiled like a predator in waiting.

Ethan had always been intense.

But now?

Now, he was dangerous.

Not just because of what he could do.

But because of the way he was looking at me.

Like I was something he wanted.

Like I was something he could never have.

And the worst part?

I liked it.

I should have turned around.

Should have walked out and never looked back.

But instead, I crossed my arms and met his gaze head-on.

Ethan's expression didn't change.

But his stance did.

A slight shift. A tightening of his jaw.

Like he was bracing for impact.

"Liv."

I exhaled. "Ethan."

A long pause.

Then—

"You shouldn't be here."

I raised a brow. "Neither should you."

His lips twitched, but there was no humor in his eyes.

And I hated that.

Hated that thing between us had gotten this heavy, this messy, this impossible.

But most of all?

I hated that I wasn't strong enough to leave.

I took a step forward, ignoring the way my pulse stuttered.

"I got a text," I said.

His jaw locked. "From who?"

I hesitated. "Jax."

Ethan stilled.

And just like that, I watched his expression go from strained to lethal.

His hands clenched, his shoulders went rigid, and when he spoke, his voice was pure steel.

"What did it say?"

I swallowed. "That we're not done."

Silence.

Then—

Ethan moved.

Fast.

One second, he was in the ring.

The next, he was in front of me, too close, too intense.

"You should've called me."

His voice was low, rough.

Like he was barely holding himself together.

Like he was angry—at me, at himself, at Jax, at everything.

I shook my head. "I don't need you to—"

"Protect you?"

I clenched my fists. "I can handle myself."

Ethan let out a bitter laugh.

But his eyes?

His eyes were filled with something that looked a lot like fear.

And suddenly, I realized—

This wasn't just about Jax.

This was about me.

About the way I kept walking into his life when he wanted me to stay out of it.

About the way he kept trying to let me go—but never could.

And for the first time, I saw it.

Not the anger.

Not the frustration.

But the fear.

Of losing me.

Ethan exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair.

"I don't like this, Liv."

I swallowed. "I know."

"This isn't a game."

"I know."

His jaw clenched. "Then why do you keep doing this?"

I didn't have an answer.

Because the truth?

I didn't know how to stop.

And maybe neither did he.

Because when I took another step closer, Ethan didn't move.

He just watched me.

And God, the way he looked at me.

Like I was something precious.

Like I was something he couldn't afford to lose.

But before he could say anything—

Before I could say anything—

The gym door slammed open.

Both of us turned.

And the second I saw who was standing there—my stomach dropped.

Jax.

Smirking.

Like he had been waiting for this moment.

Like he had planned this moment.

And suddenly, I knew.

We weren't ready for what was coming.

Because the fire we had been playing with?

It was about to consume us whole.

Ethan and Liv's tension reaches a breaking point—but before anything can happen, Jax shows up.

Jax isn't just sending warnings anymore. He's here.

The confrontation no one is ready for.