McGuire chuckled. “When you put it that way, I don’t know what I thought I had to worry about.” His laughter died. “I wanted to kill Cross when I found out he…”
“It’s alright, you can say it; when he dumped me. And yeah, you weren’t the only one.”
“I did get all up in his face about it, but he said some things that just…well, they made sense at the time. I think you should talk to him about it, if you haven’t already.”
Drew’s stomach rolled. She wasn’t going down that road. “No thanks. I’m not opening that door again.” As soon as the wordswere out of her mouth, she knew they were a lie. The door was already open a crack. She just had to make sure she didn’t let it open further. It would be too fucking painful to go through all that again.
“I really wish you guys had made it out,” McGuire said in a tight voice.
“Kind of ironic, huh? All that work to keep me out of danger, and I’m in danger anyway because I tried to help Cross. I should’ve known better. If you had just answered your phone.”
“Shit, if I had gotten the call. The deeper into the bayou you go, the spottier the service is. Cross and his group have repeaters at his cabin, but there’s nothing out here.” Regret filled his voice, and Drew instantly felt guilty.
“I probably would’ve come out anyway.” She sighed. “It is what it is, now. I’ll figure a way out.”
“You’ve got Cross,” he said gently.
“Yeah.” Her voice was quiet. “I’ve got Cross.”
Another pause.
“I will help you get out, Drew. I promise. I never wanted you dragged into this life,” he said. “I swear to God, I didn’t. Being under the radar has become a way of life, but I guess I never thought about how it affects you.”
Drew felt hollow. “I believe you. I know you didn’t. Maybe…Maybe going forward, we can figure something out? I mean, provided I don’t get dead by a killer or eaten alive by various swamp creatures.”
McGuire chuckled again. “Deal.” Then he continued in a more serious tone. “I love you, Drew. You’re my little sister. I will come get you right now—just say the word.”
She blinked back tears and stared out into the dark trees. “Don’t.”
“Drew—”
“I forgive you, Mac. But don’t come charging in here guns blazing just to prove a point. We need a plan. You rush in and get killed, and then what? I lose you for real this time?”
He didn’t answer.
“I want out,” she whispered. “But I want to live, too.”
“I’ll make a plan,” he said. “We’ll fix this. I swear.”
“Okay.”
“Stay close to Cross. He’ll keep you safe.”
Her heart twisted. “Sure.” Safe from a killer? Maybe. Safe from him? No freakin’ way. She would never be safe from Cross if she had to be around him. Never. She needed miles of physical distance to be safe from him.
“I’ll call again soon,” he promised. “Be ready.”
She hung up and let the phone fall into her lap. The swamp bubbled and hissed around her, a slow, ancient symphony of decay and danger. Behind her, the door creaked open, but she didn’t move. Didn’t turn. Because if she did, Cross would take one look at her face and open his arms. And, dammit, she would go right into them. She would fall for him all over again.
And she wasn’t sure she’d survive it this time.
The board creaked again behind her, sending a ripple of anticipation down Drew’s spine.
She still didn’t turn. Couldn’t. Her hands clenched in her lap, knuckles white. She told herself to breathe, to hold it together. But she felt him before she heard him. That quiet, magnetic presence, as unmistakable as the heat that lingered between them every time they were in the same room.
“I thought you might want to come inside,” Cross said quietly, voice low and rough. It wasn’t a question. “We need to make a plan…and I’m betting you’re getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.”
She didn’t answer. Just stood, every movement deliberate, careful, as if one wrong move would tip her over the edge she was barely balancing on.
