Page 218 of Dare To Live

Evan has put me through this before, but I’m older and stronger now. He wants us to play his game, and I’ll do it if that means saving the man I love.

“Eli wouldn’t want you to put yourself in danger.” Miles tugs on my arm. “Bella, are you listening to me? He told you to go back to L.A. He wanted to keep you safe.”

“I don’t have any choice.”

His expression morphs into anger. “Of course, you have a choice!”

“If I don’t go, Evan will kill them.”

“He could kill you. I can’t lose you, too.”

My gaze meets Bret’s, and I nod. “I love you, Miles.”

“Arabella—”

“Please take him away.”

Bret lifts a hand and two officers come and take hold of Miles and escort him away.

I turn back to Bret. “What do you want me to do?”

***

“So, your name isn’t really Grace?” I glance toward the redheaded woman walking beside me. My anger heated up the second I saw her. Bret had kept his distance, so I couldn’t punch him a second time.

She flashes me a smile. “It’s Gloria, actually.”

“Did the fashion house know you were an FBI agent?”

“No, they didn’t have a clue. I was planted at your work to keep an eye on you. I thought making friends with you would be the easiest way to do that, but you had other ideas. Bret never warned me you were the wary type.”

I frown. “But you started at the office way before Evan escaped.”

“We knew someone was sending you flowers. I was there to track them down. You weren’t supposed to know any of this. Then Ridley escaped.”

She’s been watching me for months, and I didn’t have any idea.

“We’re here.” Gloria stops and turns to face me. “This is as far as I can go. You’ll see the farmhouse. Remember, we can hear everything on the microphone you’re wearing. If things go south, say the word tomb, and we’ll come running.”

I nod, a nervous breath whooshing out of me. “Okay.”

She steps to the left and stops behind a tree. Other agents are hidden and in position. I should feel safe, but I don’t. Not even with the bullet proof vest I’m wearing under my top.

Pace steady, I continue along the path until the farmhouse comes into view. The wooden gate leading up to it is flanked by two enormous pine trees. Chickens peck at the ground and scatter in my wake as I walk past them. A horse is grazing in a field ringed with white fences on my left. It’s peaceful and quiet.

Too quiet.

No one comes to greet me. There’s no sign of anyone.

I pause on the bottom step of the wooden porch that spans the entire front side of the building. Music is coming from the inside. It sounds like someone is having a party.

My mouth is dry. I lick my lips and suck in a breath, then walk up the steps toward the front door, just as a scream erupts from inside.

I flinch at the sound, and it takes me a second to realize it’s not screaming, but someone shouting. I pull open the door and step inside. The smell hits me first, a strong metallic scent in the air. I’ve taken three steps into the hall when I see the bodies on the floor.

He killed them. Evan shot the farmer and his wife even before I got here.

My body is frozen. I can’t move. My heart is pounding wildly. I can’t look away from the bodies.

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