Cole’s POV

The sound of snow crunching under heavy boots echoed through the trees, moving fast toward the logging trail.

My brain tore itself in two directions—chase the bastard into the woods and tear his phone apart with my bare hands, or stay on my knees in four-degree weather with the girl who was sobbing in my arms.

There was no choice. There had never been a choice.

“Aria,” I breathed, dropping to my knees completely, scooping her up off the jagged ice and carrying her straight into the warm amber circle of the floodlight.

Her right foot hung limply, the white leather boot scuffed with black pond dirt. She...