Page 48

Zoey
It’s beena couple days since the fire, and I’m even more anxious than I was before. Everywhere I turn, I feel like I have eyes on me. On the ranch, at the diner, and even inside the house. I feel crazy and paranoid, like I need to add a straight-jacket to my wardrobe. I don’t sleep well, and when I do actually get some semblance of sleep, the nightmares wake me. I’m in a constant state of stress.
It’s not just my stress. Ryker hasn’t been the same, and it’s making me more uncomfortable by the minute being with him. He says he’s okay, but I see in his eye’s that something’s bothering him. I know that something is me. My past has destroyed his family’s way of life.
Ryker has spent the last couple of days going over the reports of the fire, trying to find something to either prove it wasn’t me or that it was. He claims it’s to prove that it wasn’t, but we’ve drifted apart since the fire, so I can’t be sure what’s going with us anymore. We just sort of exist in each other’s orbit, never really touching or running into each other, merely floating by.
And it’s eating me up inside.
My only job now is the diner. I’ve been able to pick up extra shifts for the rest of the week to make up for the money I no longer make at the ranch. Not only can I no longer work there, but I can’t even walk around the ranch. Basically, I’m a prisoner in Ryker’s house. I can come and go to work, but that’s it. I can’t go see Amethyst. I can’t go visit the lake. Just to and from work. A prisoner, like I was with Mitch.
Maybe it’s better if I move out and off the ranch. There’s an obvious strain between Ryker and his parents, and I know I’m the cause of it. I’ve brought it up to Ryker, but he waves me off and tells me that I’m not moving out. The reality is that we won’t survive this much longer.
Whoever’s doing this to me, they’re just around the corner waiting to strike again. And that terrifies me to my core.
Closing my eyes, I try and push past the pain and hurt. When I open them, I sigh and put my stuff in my locker at the diner. Straightening my uniform, I head out the back room and to the counter up front. I place the usual fake smile on my face and pretend that for at least a few hours, my life isn’t as dreadful as it seems. That for a few hours I don’t have my ex-fiancé coming for me.
“Hey, Zoey. How’re things going today?” Joan waves me over to where she stands by the coffee maker, putting on another pot. She smiles at me and offers me my own cup, but I shake my head.
I reply, “I’m good, Joan. Have we been busy?” I look around and see the usual suspects in the diner, but there isn’t really anyone else.
“Not really, but it’s early. Give it an hour and we should be packed. Well, I’m going to go refill some cups so I can make a fresh batch. The sheriff will be in here soon get his cup.” Joan winks at me and turns back to what she was doing.
My stomach flips at the thought of seeing him. As much as I want to stare into those beautiful eyes and see his lips curl up into a gorgeous smile, it’s not the same right now.
While I wait for Ryker to come and grab his coffee, I start taking orders from some of my tables. It’s 8:30 and Ryker still hasn’t stopped in for his morning cup. Something isn’t right. There’s a funny feeling that’s brewing inside me, and I can’t quite place it.
I try to shake it off and continue working before I come up to a table and see a face that doesn’t seem to want to go away.
Brett.
I need to call Ryker.
Before I can run away without him noticing me, he looks up and sees me staring at him.Shit.
“Zoey.” My name on his lips is vile. The way he says it makes me feel sick. His lips form a thin line, and his eyes immediately glue to me.
“Um, sorry. I can’t remember your name. But what can I get started for you?” I lie. I remember everything about him. How much he scares me, how much he knows about me. Brett knows who I am, who Mitch is. He likely works for Mitch. Is this the other shoe that drops? Does Mitch walk right in here? Grab me and take me back to New York?
“Brett, but you remembered that, rightZoey? You wouldn’t forget a name, would you?” Brett frowns as he looks at me, narrowing his eyes.
I ignore his comments. “So, what can I get for you?” I hold my pen and notepad in my hand. It’s taking every ounce of control to keep myself from shaking in front of him. I take a deep breath and try to slow my heart down. My throat feels like it’s closing up on me.
His eyes flash with something I can’t quite place. “He wants you home. Enough with the games.” Brett’s voice gets low, and he leans closer to me.
“I … I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I start to step back away from him, but he slowly shakes his head, warning me not to.
“You and I both know that Mitch isn’t a patient man. He expects this little rebellion to end and for you to come back home.”
“Who the fuck are you?” I ask, my voice wavering as I try to keep it level. I don’t want others hearing this … hearing the truth about me.
“You can say I’m an associate of Mitch’s. My task was to bring you back home. You don’t want him coming out here to get you.” He shakes his head slowly. His mouth breaks into a sinister smile, and he chuckles darkly.
“It was you,” I whisper.
“What was me?” Brett tips his head to the side, smirking.
“All the problems on the ranch. T-The cattle and fire. The chicken deaths. You did it. You did all that. Destroyed their livelihood.” My fists clench at my sides.