“No.” I don’t give him that. “I know it was right.”
Silence settles.
He shifts, almost imperceptibly.
I don’t. “How did you find me?”
“Was waiting at your place for you… if you and the cowboy would’ve just looked a little harder. But you were too ready to split and get back here to your love nest. Following you was easy after that. Never thought he’d leave, though. Like fate wants this.”
“Fate,” I spit. “Fate is you going back to prison, serving the timeyouearned.”
“You should’ve kept running,” he says.
“Maybe,” I say flatly. “But I’ve had a whole year to think about it, and it’s no longer working for me. I’m done now.”
His eyes narrow, confusion and miscalculation hidden behind them. Like he never saw this coming, never saw me ready and unafraid.
“You’re not used to someone saying no,” I say, his chest still in my sights.
He laughs darkly. “You’re not walking out of here.” But his face goes grim like he’s no longer so sure of himself. “You think you can stop me?”
“I know I can slow you down.”
That’s when I hear another step headed in my direction.
“Don’t,” I say. My voice cuts sharper now, filled with command and authority—the same tone I used in those homes, to protect children like Lacey.
“Get on your knees,” I say.
He laughs. Actually laughs. “You always did think you were in control.”
I pull my phone from the counter with my free hand, dial, and put it on speaker.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“Home intruder,” I say. “I have him at gunpoint.”
His smile falters.
“Location?” My mind blanks. Donovan drove here. I don’t even know his address. “I’m at Donovan Lane’s house… Rough & Ready.”
“Yes, ma’am. Traced. We’ll have someone there shortly.”
“He’s not going anywhere,” I add, more to him than the dispatcher. “But he’s not cooperating, so please hurry. ”
“Officers are on the way. Stay on the line with me until they arrive.” I set the phone on the coffee table, steadying the gun with both hands.
I don’t break eye contact. Not once.
“You really think this ends here?” he asks quietly.
“Yes.”
Because it has to. I’m done letting it be anything else.
Minutes drag. He tries to move a few times, catch me off guard. But I know better. That’s how he got Lacey and me the last time.
Still, this time, he doesn’t wait for me to slip.
