Page 83 of Storm Warning
Kate smirked. “We dissected my contract yesterday and found a loophole. By canceling sales of all my books, and not just the ones under investigation, my publisher breached the terms. That means I get all my rights back.”
Her grin widened, fierce and a little wild. “I’m going to self-publish from here on out. I don’t need those idiots anymore.”
Lena’s eyes shot up. “You can do that? That’s amazing! I’m so thrilled for you!” A sly look crossed her face. “And is a certain resort owner helping with this, by any chance?”
“Maybe.” Kate giggled, addicted to this new effervescent feeling. “Nick asked one of their attorneys to read my contract to verify our take on it, and she drafted a response for me. My agent sent me copies of the publisher’s official notificationsfor her to work with. We met on Zoom for hours yesterday over this!”
She stretched out her legs before crossing them. “I can’t tell you how free I feel right now. From here on out, the only deadlines and restrictions I’ll have are those I put on myself. I’m not sure why I didn’t do this sooner.”
Lena’s phone rang, so Kate hopped up to go. “I’ll let you get back to work. See you later!”
“Bye, Kate!”
With a quick wave to Lena, she headed outside to find a walking trail, the sun warm on her skin, tropical flowers perfuming the air. Her guard trailed far enough behind her to be easily ignored.
The trail wound through lush greenery and vibrant blooms. Kate wandered at a relaxed pace, drinking in the sight of hibiscus petals unfurling in shades of coral and crimson, their centers dusted with pollen that caught the light like gold dust. The rustling of palm fronds overhead created a gentle susurration, punctuated by the cheerful chirping of invisible birds and the distant, rhythmic susurration of waves against rock.
She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with air perfumed by plumeria and something else—something green and alive that made her chest expand with possibility. The knot between her shoulder blades loosened. The constant hum of anxiety that had been her unwelcome companion faded to a whisper.
A smile tugged at her lips.I’m going to be okay.We’re going to figure this out. Nick and I. Together.
The thought of him sent warmth cascading through her veins, different from the sun’s heat on her shoulders but just as real. She could still feel the ghost of his arms around her, the steady thrum of his heartbeat against her cheek as she fell asleep in his embrace.
As she rounded a bend, the trail opened to reveal abreathtaking panorama of the coastline. The Atlantic stretched out before her in impossible shades of turquoise and sapphire, each ripple catching sunlight and scattering it like scattered diamonds. The rocky edge of the shore provided a dramatic contrast—ancient stone worn smooth by centuries of patient water, dark and solid against the liquid brilliance beyond.
Kate paused, one hand rising to her chest as if to physically hold the moment inside her heart. The beauty of it stole her breath, made her eyes prick with sudden, inexplicable tears. How had she become so numb to wonder? How many years had she spent hunched over her laptop, missing mornings like this one?
Never again. Whatever happens with the books, with the investigation, with everything—she wouldn't forget this wondrous feeling.
But as she stood there, fingers pressed against her sternum, something shifted.
The air changed.
Subtly at first—just a whisper of wrongness that raised the fine hairs on her forearms. The birdsong seemed too distant, as if the creatures had retreated. The breeze that had been tugging at her hair died, leaving the air thick and still against her skin.
A prickling sensation crept up her spine, cold fingers of unease trailing from her tailbone to the base of her skull. The primitive part of her brain—the part that remembered when humans were prey—screamed a single word:watched.
Kate’s breath caught. She knew this feeling. Every woman who’d ever walked a city street at night knew this sizzle of awareness—that electric certainty of hostile eyes tracking your every movement, of being sized up, evaluated as a target.
She turned slowly, trying to appear casual even as her pulse kicked into a faster rhythm. Her eyes swept the trail behind her, cataloging every shadow, every rustling leaf. The security guardstood near the trailhead, perhaps fifty yards back, his attention on his phone rather than on her.
Nothing looked out of place. The hibiscus blooms nodded in their renewed breeze. A lizard skittered across sun-warmed stone. Everything appeared normal, peaceful, safe.
But her body disagreed. Every nerve ending sparked with warning signals. Her palms grew damp. The earlier weightlessness evaporated, replaced by a leaden sensation in her gut that made breathing difficult.
You’re being paranoid.After everything that had happened, it wasn’t surprising she was jumpy.It’s just anxiety. There’s a guard right there. You’re in broad daylight on a resort trail. Nothing's wrong.
But her racing heart didn’t believe the rational words.
Kate attempted to shake off the unease, rolling her shoulders and deliberately turning back toward the view. She focused on the details—the way the light danced on the water, the salt-sweet taste of the breeze, the distant cry of a seabird. Grounding techniques. Things her therapist taught her years ago for managing panic attacks.
Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Note five things you can see. Four things you can touch.
But the sensation only intensified, becoming a heavy weight that pressed against her chest, making each breath a conscious effort. Her skin stretched too tight. The beautiful morning transformed into something menacing, the shadows beneath the palms suddenly sinister, the rustling leaves now sounding like whispered threats.
The rational part of her brain warred with instinct. She was being ridiculous. Letting fear win. Allowing paranoia to steal this beautiful moment, this hard-won peace.
But her feet were already moving, turning her back toward the resort, back toward safety.