“You can ask for more, Six,” he murmured, pulling thethoughts straight from my addled brain. “I won’t tell anyone.”
My back hit the closed door. His hands came up oneither side of me, bracing his body just an inch from mine. “You’re a bastard,”I told him.
“You’re the one trying to get in my head. You’re theone playing games, Six.”
I pushed against his chest and he captured my hand andheld it against his rapidly beating heart. “This whole thing is a game to you,”I accused. “Since you walked into town, you’ve been up to something. Spare methe high and mighty scolding.”
His head dropped to hide his dark smile. “You reallyare a piece of work.”
“Then give me something real.” I’d meant to demand it,order his truth from his lips and then throw it in his face. But my words cameout as a plea, a brokenbeg.
He lifted his head again, his blue eyes shining withraw, unfiltered openness. “It’s not a secret why I’m here, Caroline. Try andlisten this time. I had an opportunity to get out of a life that had taken alot from me and not given enough in return. I took that opportunity. I found aquiet life in a quiet town where I can do the things I like without beingbothered by my past. If you find that threatening, I’m afraid that’s yourissue.”
“You told me not to leave town,” I reminded him. “Morethan once. You said people would find us.”
His jaw ticked. “The brotherhood is finished. That’strue. But there are certain people out there that blame that on me. They wouldhurt you to get to me.”
Where is he?
Found you.
The box of fish guts from Ohio.
The floor dropped out from beneath me and I slumpedback against the door. The black Mercedes. It wasn’t Gus or Sayer. I was beingfollowed.
Juliet.
My only thought. My only motive.
I focused back on Sayer, the source of so many of myproblems. I wanted him gone. I wanted him as far away from me as possible. Andif I couldn’t get him to leave this city, then I would be the one to go.
I pushed him away from me and yanked open the door.“Get out,” I hissed at him, breathless with concern for my daughter. I had paidthe ultimate price to get her away from that world only to have Sayer bring theworld straight to her. “Go away.”
Something dark flashed in his eyes. In any othercircumstance, with any other man I would have said he was surprised. But I knewthat wasn’t true with Sayer.
It was a different emotion. Something more sinister.Something more calculated.
He snorted, but didn’t fight me. Although he did throwout an annoyed, “If you think that’s smart.”
When he was halfway through the door, I had to get thelast word in. I was compelled to say something by the evil, vindictive demoninside me. “They should know by now you’re over me.”
He paused, dipping his head and looking at me out ofthe corner of his eye. “Yeah, I’m over you. That’s why I keep kissing you.”
Then he was gone, leaving me to reel and fight forbreath and try not to pass out.
There was someone after Sayer. There was someone afterme to get to Sayer. My peaceful, idyllic little town was no longer safe.
I was sucked back into the world I had fought so hardto escape.
And not just me, but Juliet too.
The door to the office jingled. I heard car doors slamand Gus’s Subaru drive away, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave the office. Icouldn’t bring myself to move.
Because on top of everything, overshadowing the dangerand exposure and life-threatening risk, was Sayer’s last words to me.
That’s why I keep kissing you.
It was time to leave. I had to get Juliet and Frankieand get the hell out of here. Because even if my body survived this time, myheart would not.
