Page 68

“Candy’s key,” he said. “She’s such a sweet girl. Trusting, too. She didn’t even notice when I slipped something into her drink at the bar.”
My blood ran cold.
“What did you do to her?” I demanded.
“Relax,” he said, waving me off. “She’s just unconscious. She’ll wake up with a headache, but no worse for wear. I didn’t hurt her, Tori. I’m not a monster.”
Not a monster? He had just admitted to drugging my friend and breaking into my shop. My grip on the paperweight tightened.
“This is insane,” I said, taking a small step back. “You need to leave.”
“I’m not leaving without you,” he said, his voice calm, almost pleasant.
Marcus continued, “I’ve been patient, Tori. I gave you time to come to your senses, to see that we belong together. But you’ve been stubborn. You’ve been ignoring me, pretending I don’t exist.”
“Because we don’t belong together, Marcus,” I said, my voice rising. “We never did.”
His jaw tightened, and for the first time, I saw a crack in his composure.
“That’s where you’re wrong. You’re the one, Tori. I didn’t see it before, but I do now. After what happened with Fiona…” He trailed off, shaking his head.
Marcus continued, “She left me, you know. She said I was too controlling, but she didn’t understand me. Not the way you do.”
“That’s because there’s nothing to understand,” I shot back. “You don’t love me, Marcus. You just want control.”
His eyes darkened, and before I could react, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun.
“My father’s,” he said, almost reverently. “He used it to protect his family. That’s all I want, Tori. To protect what’s mine.”
I froze, my heart slamming against my ribs.
This wasn’t just a desperate ex-boyfriend anymore. This was a man unhinged, holding a loaded weapon.
“Put the gun down,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm. “You don’t want to do this, Marcus.”
“Oh, but I do,” he said, taking a step closer. “Because you’ve left me no choice. You’re coming with me, Tori. We’re going to start over, away from all this. I’ve planned everything.”
My mind raced. I needed to keep him talking, to buy time for Cole—or anyone—to get here.
“And if I say no?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my efforts to sound strong.
He smiled again, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“You won’t. Because you’re smarter than that. You know I’m the only one who can keep you safe. That boyfriend of yours? He can’t protect you. He doesn’t understand you like I do,” Marcus said.
The paperweight felt heavy in my hand, but I knew better than to make a move. Not yet.
“You think threatening me with a gun is going to make me love you?” I asked, my voice dripping with contempt. “You’re delusional.”
His expression flickered, a flash of anger breaking through the mask.
“I don’t need your love, Tori. Not right now. I just need your obedience,” Marcus said.
The sound of footsteps outside the shop made us both freeze.
Marcus’s head snapped toward the door, and in that moment of distraction, I acted.
I swung the paperweight with all my strength, aiming for his wrist.