I squealed, jumping back, shaking my legs, shrieking as I kicked off the live worms. My yells of abhorrence grew louder and louder.
“Fuck!” I heard Quinn’s shout and then he was at my side. “Are you all right? Tierney, are you all right?”
I shuddered, pulling at my clothes. “Are they off?! Are there any more on me?”
He turned me efficiently, checking me over as I tugged at my tee, whimpering with revulsion.
“What the fuck?”
Both of our heads snapped toward Ramsay who’d obviously heard the commotion and come running.
He stared stonily at the worms slithering on the ground at my vehicle and wriggling over each other inside it. They’d filled the driver’s seat and floor of my Suzuki. Ramsay’s wolf-gray eyes snapped to me. “Worm bait.” His eyes narrowed. I saw understanding dawn. “The bird was for you.”
I shuddered, feeling nausea rise every time I looked at my vehicle. Leaning into Quinn, who’d put his arm around me, I shook my head.
“Deep breaths.” Quinn rubbed my back in comfort. “Come on, let’s get you some water while we wait for the police.”
“No,” I denied, pulling out of his embrace. “No police.” I was afraid if the police were called, this would find its way into the media. And despite the continued threat, I was even more determined that Perri publish the article.
Worm bait.
Halston Cole was warning me what I’d become if I didn’t stop.
Clearly he was getting desperate.
But this really did mean someone on Glenvulin was doing his dirty work.
Who?
Ramsay strode over to me and Quinn as Quinn tried to talk me into calling the police. He cut his friend off, reaching out to grab me gently by the chin, forcing my gaze to his. “Who is threatening you, Silver?” he demanded gruffly.
Ignoring the shiver of awareness that tingled across the bottom of my breasts at his touch, I yanked my chin from his calloused fingers. I lied. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Ramsay stared stonily into my eyes. “Bullshit.”
“Ramsay, mate …” Quinn placed a palm between us. “She’s had a shock. I don’t think an interrogation is going to help matters.”
“She doesn’t want to call the police, even though she’s had two threats made against her. You don’t find that suspicious?”
“I think it could be anything, including some miserable fucker who’s unhappy Tierney—an outsider, no offense—could afford to buy the guesthouse and they couldn’t. The CCTV equipment is on order and it should be here by the end of the week. That should deter any more of this nonsense.”
Although his expression remained calm, Ramsay shook his head at his friend. “You’re a fool if you can’t see she’s lying.”
I flinched and Ramsay caught it.
“What trouble have you brought to our island, Silver?”
Hurt, stupid hurt I shouldn’t feel because I, ultimately, barely knew this man, echoed through my chest. I’d thought his persistence was somehow him being protective of me.
Of course not.
He was merely worried about the village and its people.
Which meant he didn’t see me as one of them.
Maybe that’s how they all felt.
Maybe trying to start over in Scotland was the worst idea ever because I might have Scottish blood running through my veins, but I hadn’t been raised here, I didn’t sound like them … I was an American.
