Page 12 of The Fragile Truth
The girl pointed at the remaining slices of pizza. “You want a box for that?”
“Please,” Sadie answered.
“Be right back.” She be-bopped away.
Sadie gave him an appraising look. “You are funny.”
“Is that a compliment?” It occurred to Ian that her opinion was starting to matter a great deal.
“Yeah,” she sighed. A couple minutes later, she grew thoughtful. “You know, I’m glad I decided to go on that blind date, after all.”
He didn’t try to hide the pleased smile that stretched over his lips. “And I’m glad you chose the spot next to me to sit down.” In a bold move, he reached across the table and took her hand. He welcomed the sparks that rippled through him when their skin connected. Her hand was warm and soft. To have started out so rotten, the night had turned out surprisingly well. Ian couldn’t remember the last time he’d been excited about the prospect of the future. Maybe he could put aside the ugliness of Lina and start fresh. It thrilled him to no end to think that Sadie would be living in his town. They caught gazes, sending a splash of warmth into the center of Ian’s chest. “Let me be the first to welcome you to Summerhaven.”
4
By the time midnight rolled around, Lina had worked herself into a frenzy to the point where she could scarcely draw in a breath. Her stomach was writhing like she’d been riding back-to-back roller coasters, and she was trembling all over. What were the intentions of the person who’d sent the note? Did he or she actually want to talk escape? Or was someone coming to hurt her? Lina had made several enemies during her struggle to get to the top. Blackmail was one of her favorite tactics. Her time spent living on Honeysuckle Island and rubbing shoulders with the filthy rich had made secrets ripe for the picking. Lina couldn’t resist using them to her advantage. The problem with burning so many people was that Lina had no idea who could be coming after her. Just as she had no idea who leaked those incriminating photos of her and Wesley to the Chasings, or who sent the text demanding that she meet at the lighthouse.
A shudder ran through her. Maybe the person who shot Deputy Allen was coming after her tonight to finish the job. If only she’d been able to convince Ian to stay with her, then she wouldn’t have to face this person on her own. “Stop it!” she commanded herself, gritting her teeth. Weak people depended on others. Lina had learned a long time ago—after her mother walked out the door and left her in the care of her alcoholic father—that the only person she could truly depend on was herself. Britney Baker had been pathetic, going to bed hungry and crying herself to sleep. She’d been too young to fend off the advances of her dad’s friends. She’d endured the drunken rages of her dad that usually ended when he popped her a few times with his meaty fists. Experience had taught her to shield her face so that she could preserve her beauty. It was the only weapon she had. And she would use it to her utmost advantage.
The little trip down memory lane caused her blood to boil. Rage filled every inch of her body, pushing out the fear. Lina Holt Chasing was nothing like Britney Baker. Lina was a survivor. She would keep her feelings safely tucked away in a box, never to resurface again. Lina had made the mistake of falling in love with Talon and thinking that their marriage could last. Then, his family got in the way. It wasn’t her fault that she’d had an affair with Wesley Laramie. If Talon had been more attentive and given her the attention that she craved almost as much as she needed air, then she wouldn’t have run into Wesley’s arms. Talon should have recognized how handsome and persuasive Wesley was. Wesley had ties to Hollywood and promised Lina a foothold into acting. Her eyes narrowed. The real problem here was Effie Romeo. If only Lina’s plan to kill the cockroach had worked, then she wouldn’t be stuck in this drab apartment with the infernal monitor attached to her ankle. Had Effie not stepped into the picture and tricked Talon into falling in love with her, then Talon would have been overjoyed to have Lina resurface from the dead. Effie had stolen Lina’s life. And that had to be answered!
Glancing toward the window that faced the back deck, she stole into the kitchen and pulled a butcher knife from the drawer. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to use it, but it couldn’t hurt to be prepared. Straightening her shoulders, she moved to the back door, keeping the knife pressed flat to her outer thigh. It was a couple of minutes after midnight. Was the person out there already?
Taking in a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped onto the deck. The night was pitch black except for the fingernail moon, which cast a thin, eerie light over the porch. The moist air seeped into her bones. Crickets and other insects joined in a rhythmic, disjointed squawk that grated on Lina’s ears. Her skin bristled with vulnerability as she glanced around, willing her eyes to adjust to the darkness. She tightened her hold on the handle of the knife, scouring her surroundings.
A subtle movement on the right caught her attention. In a quick reflex, she gasped, holding out the knife. A man dressed in all black tread stealthily up the steps. His gait was so light and fluid that he might’ve been a cat.
“Hold it right there,” Lina ordered.
He chuckled, holding up his hands. “I come in peace,” he said dryly.
As he stepped closer, she recognized him. “You,” she grunted.
“Hello, Lina. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.” His musical voice was coated in amusement. “The last time was at the lighthouse, when you were running for the marsh.”
“Stop right there,” she growled, wielding the knife. Terror clutched her in a tight fist. She’d known he was a powerful adversary when she tried to blackmail him. Before she went to him, she debated about opening that can of worms. But the evidence against him was so surprising, so concrete, that she couldn’t resist. He was smart though, explaining her evidence away. He called her bluff, leaving them at a stalemate. Lina assumed that was the end of it, but evidently not.
Derisive laughter floated softly from his lips. “No need for that. I’m not here to hurt you.”
“I don’t believe you,” she countered. Should she run at him and thrust the knife into his heart? That might be the only chance she had of surviving the night.
His tone was conversational, pleasant. “Think about it. If I had wanted you dead, I could’ve killed you like I did Deputy Allen.” His eyes cut into hers. “I let you escape.” A smug smile tipped his lips. “Who do you think paid your bail?”
She considered his words, trying to decide if she should believe him. He was so cultured … so set in his career. A family man. One of the last people Lina would have expected to show up here tonight. “What do you want?”
His smile widened. “The same thing I’ve always wanted.” He paused as if savoring the moment. “You.”
She saw it then, the desire that trickled into his eyes. It gave her a jolt of power. Men were such dopes.
“Put the knife down,” he urged. “I only want to talk.”
She barked out a laugh. “I know what you want.”
He made a point of looking her up and down. His eyes moved over her slowly, like she was a possession. “Yes,” he said softly, “eventually, I’ll want that too.”
She lowered the knife to her side. “In your note, you said you wanted to talk escape.”
“We can do that.”