Page 67 of Summer Ever After

Then her breath whooshed out of her chest. “Where’s my mom?” She practically yelled it.

“Safe. For now. But really, wife, you didn’t think you could keep me away forever, did you?”

Her knees threatened to give out, but adrenaline kept her upright. Every survival instinct screamed at her to run, but she forced herself to stand her ground, fingers tightening on the cell phone like it might serve as a shield.

“You need to leave. You’re not supposed to be here, remember?” she said firmly, or at least tried to. Her voice broke despite her efforts.

His smile widened. “Oh, I’m not going anywhere. This is going to end today. One way or another, we’re going to be together. Either you’re coming home with me, for good…” His eyes narrowed. “Or…” He lifted the gun a little more.

The thought of a bullet ripping through her terrified her. She knew he was a good enough shot that he wouldn’t miss, especially at such a close distance.

Stall. Everything in her body screamed for her to stall until someone came, until Aaron came.

But the thought of a bullet ripping through Aaron had her moving forward a step.

“I’ll go with you,” she said, oddly calm.

Ian’s eyebrows shot up, then he chuckled softly.

“I figured you would. You know, for as shitty as that bitch treated you all your life, you’d still give up anything for her.”

“She’s my mother,” she said, wanting to keep Ian from thinking about Aaron or the rest of the people in the camp.

In response he chuckled again. “And a very gullible woman. She easily gave up the keys to your apartment that day when I showed up and told her I was helping you move back home.”

“Is she okay?” she asked, fearing that this time Ian had harmed her. She couldn’t see her mother just giving him her cell phone. She could understand the keys, which she’d only now remembered she’d given her mother in case of emergencies. But her cell phone, no.

“Like I said, she’s safe for now.” He waved the gun. “Let’s go.”

Instead of pointing towards a pathway, he motioned towards a small rowboat.

“That’s how you got here?” she asked.

“It was the easiest way.” He motioned again.

Beth’s lungs tightened. If she stepped into that boat, the camp would vanish behind them, along with the safety of the cameras, the lights, the people who might still be close enough to hear her scream. Out on the bay, she’d be swallowed by the black water and the endless stretch of dark horizon. Once they reached wherever his truck was waiting, he could take her anywhere. No cameras. No witnesses. No hope of escape.

One thing was very clear—he knew that he couldn’t just take her home. Everyone she loved, that loved her, would be knocking on his door within minutes of discovering she was missing.

When she didn’t move towards him fast enough, he stalked towards her and his hand clamped around her wrist, his grip vice-like, bruising.

“You’re coming home, Beth,” he murmured, voice low and chillingly calm, as if he were explaining something she should already know. He gave her arm a sharp tug, pulling her closer to the edge of the dock where the small boat bobbed against the steps.

“You’re going to be a good wife again. Just like before,” he whispered, bending close enough that she felt his breath against her cheek. His eyes glittered with something unhinged. Desperation. “Things are going to be perfect now that we’re back together. No more running away from me. No more of your little friends filling your head with lies.”

Beth’s stomach twisted. His fingers dug in deeper, cutting off her circulation, and the world seemed to shrink until it was only his hand, his voice, and the gaping black water, like all those dark shadows she’d dreamed about, waiting to swallow her whole.

Her brain scrambled for possibilities. If she made a scene here, if she fought, maybe someone would notice. Maybe Aaron, or one of the others, would hear her. But if she let him push her into that boat, her chances of escape dropped to almost nothing.

Ian yanked again, harder this time, forcing her a step closer to the dock’s edge. “Stop fighting fate. Once we’re out of here, you’ll thank me. I’ll take care of everything, like I always have.”

Her chest heaved, air catching like glass in her lungs. The bay stretched out before her, almost endless, black and final.

No. She couldn’t let him get her on that water. She had to end this here. Now.

She used all her strength and tore free from his grip, the sting of his fingers bruising her arm. She must have caught him by surprise because she was able to sprint up the pathway.

She ran hard and fast, her chest heaving with terror. Her ears rang as she ran, her heartbeat almost deafening in her ears, blocking out the sound of Ian shouting behind her. His heavy footsteps were a distant pounding against the gravel.