"No,” Liam said. “I need you with me." Mike looked warily back in the car. It was obvious he didn't like the idea of leaving her alone either. "I'll kill her, Mike. I need you there to stop me."
Mike closed his mouth and nodded.
A pair of headlights swept over the interior of the car. Sera listened as another vehicle pulled up and turned off. A door opened and shut. She rose to watch Michelle hurry down the path toward the gazebo with a case of beer in hand.
For the first time, Sera felt some emotion penetrate her numbness. She had to fight the urge to get out of the car and confront her. She didn't know how, but she knew Michelle had something to do with Jacob showing up tonight. She looked at the keys in the ignition and was half-tempted to start the car and run her over with it.
Instead, she sat back in the seat and watched her disappear.
Liam watched as Michelle walked toward him with her hips swaying seductively. "Hello, sexy," she purred as she placed the beer on the gazebo step.
"Hello, Michelle."
She smiled as she hurried up the steps. She froze just inches before him as terror spread over her features and she gaped at him.
Sera grabbed the keys from the ignition and climbed out of the car. She was freezing, and she needed something to do to take her mind off what was going on in the park. She walked around to the back of the car and slid the keys into the lock. Pulling Liam's jacket closer, she inhaled his pleasant, reassuring scent as she flung the trunk open.
She reached in to look for a blanket or clothes and froze. Jacob stared back at her. Wrapped in her clean, white sheets, his head was turned toward the side and his eyes open in unseeing horror. Sera stumbled back in revulsion as a scream caught in her throat. She tripped and fell to the ground. A guttural cry ripped from her as she scrambled backward like a crab.
Her breath came in heavy, lurching wheezes, and she couldn't stop the rolling revulsion racing through her. She turned onto her knees and vomited, her whole body heaved as she knelt upon the chilly ground. When her stomach was empty, she wiped the back of her hand over her mouth. She couldn't find the strength to stand.
Liam was a murderer. He killed Jacob. Jacob was dead. Her mind spun, one thought would not stay for more than a second or two. Nothing made sense. Everything was wrong.
Finally, when she could breathe normally again and move without feeling nauseous, she shoved herself to her feet. Stumbling to the car, she slammed the trunk closed without looking in it. She couldn't handle that awfulness again. The keys fell to the ground, but she didn't notice as she took a trembling step back.
Her gaze drifted to the path Liam, Mike, and Michelle had traversed. She didn't want to go, but she knew she had to. She had to see Liam and learn what was going on. Stumbling forward, she headed toward the path. Her heart lurched with every step, and her breath came in heavy pants as she broke into a run.
Tree branches slapped her face and hands as she stumbled blindly through the night. She tripped over a log and fell to the ground. Her hands and knees stung from the impact, but she didn't notice through the panic constricting her heart. She climbed back to her feet and started running again. The gazebo loomed before her as she finally made it to the park.
She froze as something inside told her not to go any further. She could see Liam and Michelle in the gazebo. Michelle gestured excitedly; her voice drifted through the night, but the words were indiscernible. Liam's voice was angry and insensible.
Sera started to creep forward. A part of her told her to run, to leave, and never look back. Another part of her, the bigger part, told her to keep going. This was Liam; he loved her; he would never hurt her.
Liam looked up and spotted Sera standing at the edge of the woods. He froze as his eyes latched onto her. Michelle turned toward Sera, her body stiffened and then relaxed. Liam's arms remained locked on the banister behind her as Sera approached.
Sera looked like a ghost, pale and ethereal as she moved toward the steps of the gazebo. Her long hair billowed like a banner behind her as it whipped in the wind. Michelle turned back to Liam; apprehension still filled her eyes, but there was a glimmer of hope in them now. Sera climbed the steps; her eyes were turbulent as they met Liam's before going toward Michelle. Sweat beaded her brow and matted her hair to her face. Her breath came fast, and he knew she’d run all the way here. He just didn't know why. He turned his attention away from her and back to Michelle.
"I think you have something to tell her," he said.
"I called Jacob," Michelle admitted.
Sera's jaw clenched. "How did you know?" she grated.
Michelle looked at the ground as she wrapped her arms around herself. "I knew something must’ve happened to you," she whispered hesitantly. "You never spoke of your home. You never go back there; you were always so skittish around men..."
Her voice trailed off. Sera's breath froze in her lungs. Liam's face was utterly inhuman as he stared at Michelle. She willed him to look at her, to show some sign he was still the man she loved. But his gaze never traveled to her as he kept Michelle pinned in.
"Tell her everything!" he barked.
Michelle jumped and tensed. Sera shivered and buried herself deeper into Liam's jacket. Her gaze flew to the back of the gazebo as Mike took a
