I feel him climb a few steps and then he sets me down on what feels like a bench seat. There’s a jangle of keys, and then a light blinks on and I see where we are. A log cabin, and Rhys is standing in the doorway holding out his hand to me.
I take it and he helps me up. “What an amazing place,” I say, walking into the open-plan living room and kitchen. There are deep sofas clustered around a fireplace and thick rugs on the floor. The kitchen has wooden counters and everything is spotlessly clean and welcoming. There are bookshelves and paintings of mountains on the walls.
Rhys comes up beside me. “Here are the keys to my car. You still have the Mace?”
I trace its outline in my pocket and take the keys from him. I feel a rush of affection for this huge, gruff man.
“Let me show you around. I haven’t been here in months. I hope it’s not too dusty.”
Rhys’ eyes glow as he shows me around the cozy space. It’s clear that he really does love it here. I like the bedroom the most with its big bed and picture window.
“When the sun’s up, you can see for miles,” he tells me. “The best time of year is winter when the snow’s falling.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him to stay. I imagine us together on the sofa, drinking coffee and catching up on all the lost years between us.
I feel a sting of regret as he steps away from me.
“I’ll get you settled in while I wait for one of the local boys to show up and drive me back to the city. You can unpack your things.”
From the bedroom, I hear Rhys talking on the phone and the front door open and close. I guess he’s calling for that ride. After I unpack, my eyes keep drifting restlessly back to my overnight bag. I have a nagging feeling like I’m forgetting something important so I go through all the pockets to check that I haven’t left anything inside, but there’s nothing there. I’m just being stupid.
To take my mind off things, I head back to the kitchen to make coffee. The coffeemaker is on the counter next to the jar of coffee grounds. Once I get it started, I grab the milk out of the fridge. I set out two mugs and wait for the water to percolate through the machine.
I’m safe here, but my nerves keep prickling, as if my stalker is close by. As if he’s right outside this cabin. There’s a thunk thunk sound from the front yard. Rhys must be splitting logs.
My eyes land on the milk carton and I read the use-by date.
Maybe I’m worried there’s a GPS tracker in my overnight bag, but I went through it twice. I see in my mind’s eye Rhys going to the trunk and pulling it out, and my stomach swoops in alarm again.
What? What’s so strange about that?
I stare at the date on the milk carton. It’s two days from now.
The front door opens and Rhys comes in carrying an armload of wood. A blast of freezing air comes with him. Every nerve in my body screams at the sight of him.
The words whisper over my lips without conscious thought. “It’s you.”
Rhys stops short and stares at me.
He doesn’t say, It’s me what?
Or, What are you talking about?
He stares and stares until it’s too late for him to deny anything, and as I watch his eyes harden with every passing second, I realize he doesn’t even look like him anymore.
Everything about him screams danger.
Rhys kicks the front door closed and throws the logs against the wall so hard, they go tumbling across the floor. Then he does something so grotesque it makes my blood run cold.
He smiles. “I told you soon, Alaina.”
I lunge for my phone, which is lying on the counter. Faster than a big man should be able to move, Rhys swipes it and shoves it in his pocket.
I stare at him, my heart battering in my ears. He knew where I kept my overnight bag because he’s the one who put all those bugs in my apartment. He said he hasn’t been here in months, but he’s kept fresh milk in the fridge, just waiting until the day I begged for his help.
The boy who once saved my life.
The man I thought I could trust above all others.
Rhys advances on me, his body suddenly a walking threat. “Who were you going to call? Mitchell? If that idiot actually cared about you, I never would have been able to take you right under his nose.”
I’ll possess you.
I’ll ruin you.
Take you.
“Don’t you dare talk about Mitchell,” I say, backing away. I crash into the counter, and pain explodes in my hip. As I clutch the spot, I feel the Mace in my pocket. Gasping in relief, I whip it out and aim the nozzle right at Rhys’ face.
When I press the button, nothing happens. I shake the empty can while Rhys goes on grinning.
“You’re fucking crazy. Stay away from me,” I scream, and throw the empty can at him. It bounces harmlessly off his chest and rolls away.
“I can’t stay away from you, Alaina. That’s not what we’re here for. Seeing you again when you arrived in Philly…” His eyes run down my body, lascivious and possessive. “I just couldn’t help myself.”
I start to shake. He knew I would run straight to him when I was in danger. I begged him to take me, and now no one but him knows where the hell I am.
“It was such a good plan, don’t you think? Terrified women always cling to me, but the only one I’ve ever wanted is you.”
I dodge past him and run for the door. I feel the swipe of
