As Cara faced off with Steven on the path to the lake, mind processing at warp speed, the pieces began to fall into place.
Steven had never found caves appealing. He’d told her that on their first hike.
Either he’d been lying, or there was another explanation for his sudden interest in visiting the subterranean space.
Did it have anything to do with the bracelet in his pocket?
And could all of this be connected to the late-night lights she’d seen on the property?
Was Steven the trespasser?
“Stop thinking so hard, Cara.”
At Steven’s comment, she studied him.
He wasn’t quite as agitated as he’d been moments ago.
Why not?
He didn’t wait long to give her an answer.
“Let’s take a walk.” He motioned to the trail behind her. The one that led back to the cottage and the house.
What?
He was going to take her at gunpoint to a place where Natalie could see them?
That didn’t make sense.
Because Cara would bet her life the older woman didn’t have a clue her cousin had a dark side. Why would Steven want to risk changing that?
“Move.” Steven extended his hand, aiming the gun at her center mass.
Her breath hitched, and she turned around. Started up the path.
She had to do something.
But what?
This scenario was more the bailiwick of her siblings. Jack would already have the situation in hand, and Bri wouldn’t be far behind. Either of them would be capable of kicking the gun out of Steven’s—
Wait.
She could kick.
While she didn’t have the self-defense moves her siblings had mastered, her ballet experience ought to give her the tools to deliver a kick that would dislodge the gun from Steven’s hand if the opportunity presented itself.
Of course, after that, her only defense would be to run.
Unless ... was it possible she could talk her way out of this?
Even as that thought crossed her mind, she dismissed it.What Steven was doing was a criminal offense. He wasn’t going to want to pay the price for that.
And who knew what else he’d done, this man with jewels in his pocket, who was likely the person who’d been skulking around in the dark that she’d assumed was Micah.
Micah.
Cara’s stomach began to churn.
