Page 124 of Our Little Secret

Still crouching, her nerves stretched tight as bowstrings, she rocked back on her heels and took several deep breaths. Her heart was pounding a desperate tattoo. Nervous sweat collected on her back.

She was freaking herself out. She’d been keyed up already and then the fight with Leah had hyped her up. But here, cowering on his sailboat in the middle of a storm, expecting him to leap out and what—slash her throat?—was crazy.

Pull yourself together.

And get the hell out. Coming here was a mistake.

She made her way up the stairs and to the deck, where the storm had abated, the wind dying, the rain a steady drizzle. What had she been thinking coming here—and bringing a gun? He was making her act like a lunatic, driving her crazy. She had to get a grip and just forget him, or if he kept ramping up the harassment, go to the police. Face the consequences.

Like a sane person.

She pocketed the stupid pistol, and her hand brushed against the surprise she’d brought Gideon, the dead rat she’d put in a Ziploc bag next to the bracelet, both of which she intended to—Thud!

He landed right in front of her.

Gasping, feet sliding on the wet deck, she scrambled backward as she stared at him, dressed in black—pants, jacket, gloves—still in a crouch, as if ready to spring.

“What the hell—?” She glanced upward and realized he’d been on the mast, hidden in the dark, and had probably been watching her the whole time.

Hewasa psycho.

“What’re you doing here?” he demanded. His hair was plastered to his head, his skin shiny with rain.

Well, now she was in it. Time for the truth. “I came here to end it with you.”

Even in the darkness she saw him cock a skeptical eyebrow.

“Really?” he mocked. “By coming to my home?”

“It was a mistake.” She started for the gangway, but he blocked her path.

“Was it?”

“Yes. For God’s sake, Gideon, it’s over and you won’t accept it. I found your damned cameras and the rat and the bracelet. For the love of God, I know you’ve been in my house, stalking me, okay?” she said, and rather than be intimidated she took a step toward him. “I’m tired of you playing your sick little games, all right? It’s over. No more fake delivery guys and security guards, no more stealing my dog, no more leaving things in my house where you want me to find them!” She was angry, her pulse jumping.

“You love it.”

“I hate it! And that’s why I came here. To tell you to leave me and my family the hell alone. Texts and phone messages don’t work,” she said. “So I thought I’d do it face-to-face. Isn’t that how you wanted it?”

“What I want,” he said distinctly, “is you.”

“Fuck that. WhatIwant is for you to leave me alone.”

“Liar,” he accused, coming closer. Too close.

“It’s over.”

“It will never be over. You know that.”

“Of course it will. Right here. Right now!”

“No,” he countered. “One way or another, you and I, Brooke, we will be together. Forever. I will never let you go. Never.”

“You’re nuts!”

He actually smiled then, that crooked smile that once had seemed full of sexual promise and now was only evil. “You came here because you want me.” Another step. “You’re enjoying this.”

“Bullshit!” She retrieved the bracelet and held it over the rail. “Don’t you ever come near me or my family, even my damned dog, again!” She let the bobble dangle for a second before releasing it into the water. “No more!” She reached into her pocket and took out the nest of tiny cameras, some with wires still attached. “No more spying! No more fake pizza drivers and security guards.” She shot her arm over the rail and dropped the spy equipment into the water. “Got it? And for God’s sake, no more damned dead rats!” She reached into her pocket and withdrew the Ziploc bag. Inside the plastic was the lifeless rodent, tail wrapped around its curled body. “No more anything!” She dropped the rat in its plastic shroud over the side of the boat.