Page 90 of Snowbound

“You did that without asking me.”

“I told you I didn’t want him in your life.”

“I have things we need to talk about.”

“Things you can discuss with your lawyers,” Owen snaps.

“Owen…”

I look away. I knew this was too good to be true—the two of us… alone, in love.

And I knew, once the snow thawed, the truth would come with it.

I look down at my phone, tapping into the blocked contacts.

My mom.

Owen.

His dad.

And Jake.

I unblock each one of them as he watches. My finger trembles.

And the messages come in—one after the other. And another, and another.

I feel the weight on my shoulders, heavy and oppressive. “So it wasn’t just bad cell reception,” I whisper.

Owen shakes his head. “No, lass.” He sighs. “Do you need space, Emma?” he asks.

I swallow. It hurts.

“Yeah.”

Even though the thought of him leaving me makes me want to cry, I nod. “I need to think this through.”

“Alright, then,” he says quietly. “I’ll go back to my house. You take what you need.”

But then he looks at me, his eyes dark. “Do me a favor, Emma.” His voice drops. “Don’t leave without coming to see me first.”

“Yeah…” I nod.

But he’s told a lie.

Now it’s my turn.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Owen

I pullon my boots and wrap myself in my winter gear, but the dread’s already coiling in my stomach.

I don’t like leaving her there. I don’t like knowing what she’s in danger of finding out. It’s true: Her husband worked for the mafia.

It’s also true he owes them 2.7 million dollars, and they’re going to come collect. But here, in my neighborhood, if she were in my cabin, she would be safe.

No one gets to her here. No one. I’ve got surveillance on the whole property. Still, she won’t be able to leave without me knowing.