Elle sat on the beach looking out over the water, the surface broken only by the heavy surf rolling toward the sand. The day was cold, the wind biting, and she pulled the blanket she’d brought down from the house more tightly around her shoulders as she let her eyes graze the steely waters.

A large wave towered between the shallows and the edge of the cove, blocking out everything beyond it. She was surprised Locke hadn’t caught it, then understood when he rose on an even bigger wave on its tail.

He jumped effortlessly onto the board, steering it into the wave’s funnel, navigating through it as the funnel narrowed. He made it look easy, his movements graceful and effortless in spite of the wave’s size and strength. Advisories had been released about the heavy surf, but nothing could keep Locke from the water when that’s where he wanted to be.

She was still getting used to his recklessness, to the part of him that craved danger, that ran on adrenaline. She didn’t bother hoping it would change with time. That he would be less inclined to risk his life with her in it.

Lots of things changed in the world, but betting on a person changing was never a good idea.

She’d resolved to love him instead. It turned out to be the easiest thing in the world.

There had been no room for fear when he’d limped back into the house in Mexico with the others, cradling his arm, his face a mess of bruises — she’d been too relieved.

He was alive. It was all that mattered, and she’d gotten ice for his face while they waited for the private doctor Locke kept on retainer for times when he needed treatment without the records that would be kept in the States.

His arm had been broken, but the other injuries had been minor. Derek had taken a bullet to the calf and had been right as rain after the doctor dug it out and patched him up. The entire group had been drinking margaritas on the terrace that night, just like Elle promised.

Still, she’d been shaken, and Locke had held her close in bed that night, stroking her hair, promising he would disband the group if it’s what she wanted. That he would do anything to make her happy.

The words had been music to her ears for about five seconds, which was how long it took to realize she didn’t want a watered-down version of Locke Montgomery.

She wanted him. The whole man.

Reckless. Passionate. Wild.

She’d answered his offer with a kiss and proceeded to straddle him, careful not to injure his arm, ensconced in a cast.

They’d spent a couple weeks in Mexico, laying on the terrace and swimming in the cove, sleeping late, wandering Tulum, making love with the doors open until it got too cold. Then they’d come back to California and settled into the beginning of their life together.

Glover’s plane had crashed into the water off the coast of Cancun. Locke had been puzzled by reports that no bodies had been found. According to him, there had been three parachutes onboard. He’d taken one of them, leaving Glover and his men one short.

He’d worried over it for awhile, not wanting to be responsible for another death, but Glover had never appeared and no sign of him or the guards had been found. The FBI was still looking for Glover, but Locke said they would never hear from him again.

The cash was gone, blown out the back of the plane as it was falling to the ground. They both regretted its loss, their inability to return it to some of the people who had lost at Glover’s hands, but there was nothing to be done about it. At least it wasn’t going to a luxury retirement for the man who had caused so much misery, and Elle had been strangely satisfied to see Glover’s wife staring back at her from a supermarket tabloid over a headline screaming MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR DIVORCE. Apparently she was working to have Glover declared dead in order to take possession of what was left of their assets. The FBI wasn’t exactly cooperating.

Elle was still thinking about Glover’s family when Locke emerged from the water, dripping wet and carrying his board.

“How’s the arm?” she asked as he set the board in the sand.

“Good as new.” He shook his head playfully over her, sprinkling her with water.

“Hey!” she shrieked, covering herself with the blanket.

He laughed, lowered himself next to her on the sand, seemingly unaware of the cold. “Just keeping you on your toes.”

She leaned over him, touched her lips to his. “I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”

“What makes you say that?” he asked innocently.

She laughed, shook her head. “You think you’re pretty funny, don’t you?”

He smiled. “I think life’s pretty funny.”

She had to agree. Her brother was on his way home, this time for good, or so he said. Her mother was dating a man she’d met while tending to Matheson and Matheson when Elle was in Mexico. Sales at the bookstore were still falling.

But looking at Locke, she could only think that the universe seemed to know what it was doing. Change was chaotic and scary. It cast everything you thought you could count on into doubt. It made you cling to things out of fear that the alternative would be worse when most of the time, it was just different.

And a lot of the time, it was infinitely better.

He reached for her, pulling her back down to him, sweeping her into a kiss that heated her from the inside out. She wasn’t in control anymore. She never had been, and the truth was, she wasn’t even sure she wanted to be.

The universe had done pretty good for her so far.

Are you a fan of the Mob Boss series that began with Ruthless, Fearless, and Lawless? FIRE WITH FIRE, the first book in the New York Syndicate series, continues the saga and releases June 20th. Preorder now to reserve your copy and stay tuned on social media for news and trailers.