Page 111 of Noel Secrets

“Roger didn’t take the pictures. I did. It’s you who’s a liar. A flirt and a liar who has to have every man. Well, you can’t have my man. I’m going to free him.”

“Put that knife away.” Addie took another step back. She still had twenty feet to the apartment door. “Are you crazy? You’ll go to prison if you hurt me.”

“Don’t call me crazy!” Gillian raged. “And I’m not going to hurt you. I’m going to kill you.”

“Help!” Addie hollered at the top of her lungs. She turned and raced for the door, but Gillian was right on her heels. The knife swiped at her back, cutting her sweater and stinging her skin. “Help!”

She grabbed at the door handle, but Gillian loomed over her. She’d stab Addie in the back. Her friend had completely lost her mind.

Whirling, she dodged to the right. Gillian flew forward, jabbing the knife and barely missing Addie’s shoulder. The blade dug into the door.

Gillian screamed like a wild banshee, yanking on the knife to pull it back out.

Addie shoved her from the side, praying she could get her away from the door and get out of the apartment. She was no fighter like Price, but her dad had taught her a few self-defense moves. She jabbed her fist into the side of Gillian’s throat.

Gillian gasped and grabbed at her neck with her left hand. With her right, she ripped the knife out and swiped at her. “I’m going to enjoy slicing you up,” she said in a hoarse snarl. “You were never my friend. You only used me to get more men. To stealmymen. Jamison told me everything.”

“Jamison’s insane and so are you.” Addie edged back from the knife again. She kicked Gillian in the leg, causing it to buckle, but her former friend caught herself against the door. Addie, on the other hand, lost her balance and fell to the floor.

“He was right,” Gillian shrieked. “You deserve to die!”

She pushed off the door and dove straight at Addie.

The door flung open, crashing into Gillian’s back and sending her sprawling.

Addie rolled to the side as the knife went flying.

Price sprung through the doorframe and easily pinned Gillian to the floor. She screamed and flailed, but he held her down.

“Addie?” Price’s dark eyes were full of horror. “You’re all right?”

“Yes!” She placed a hand over her racing heart. “Gillian lost it. How did you know to come?”

“I felt like something was off. I prayed, double parked my car, and raced back here.”

“Thank you.” He was her hero. Once again.

He nodded, serious. “I will always come for you, Addie.”

Addie trusted him. He would always come for her. She loved him. She wasn’t ready to tell him that yet, but she felt it.

Epilogue

The trial for Jamison was behind her. Gillian and Roger were in jail awaiting their own trials. Detective Thayne thought Gillian might get an insanity plea. Jamison had literally messed with her former friend’s mind. For years, apparently. Neither of them had ever told her they dated in college. Jamison had convinced Gillian he was going to ‘teach Addie a lesson’ by dating her and breaking her heart instead of the other way around. Gillian had assumed she was setting Addie up, but then Jamison admitted he liked Addie, was ticked she broke up with him, and that was why he had attacked her. It was sickening, but thankfully it was over.

The insurance claims were all filed and being processed. Addie was in an extended hotel stay downtown awaiting an apartment opening. She was back at work and things were going well there.

Price texted or called her every night. His job was ‘an easy bodyguard situation’ and she could hardly wait to see him in a few days.

She was in Quincy Market, wandering after she ate a bowl of chowder and sourdough bread. Should she get banana pudding or wait for Price? Maybe she’d get gelato or a cookie or brownie.There were a lot of options for dessert that weren’t special for her and Price.

Someone bumped into her from behind. She stumbled over a foot in front of her.

“Whoa there.” A strong arm caught her and helped her regain her footing. She looked up into the most intriguing pair of deep brown eyes shadowed by long lashes.

“Price,” she whispered.

He smiled. “Are you all right?”