Page 44 of Ruthless Intent

“No.” I don’t even need to think about it.

“That isn’t fair. I was thirteen. What I walked in on … anyone would have thought the same as me.”

“I’d agree if you told them what you actually saw and didn’t make up your own version. Get in the car.”

“No.”

I should have known she’d argue. “You must really hate your mother.”

“Of course not.”

“Then why are you fighting with me on this?”

I walk around to the driver’s side, climb in, and start the engine. When she doesn’t move, I lean across the center console.

“You can either get in the car, and I’ll take you home, or I’ll leave you here and you can walk. Your choice. It makes no difference to me.”

“If you agree that anyone would have thought the same, why are you doing this?” She drops into the passenger seat, and slams the door.

“That wasn’t what I said. Put your seatbelt on.”

“Wouldn’t you rather I didn’t? That way if you crash, it might kill me.”

I turn my head toward her. “A fast death won’t give me what I want.”

She glares at me.

I reach across and pull her seatbelt over her, then snap it into the lock.

Pulling out of the parking space, I drive out of the exit and join the traffic moving away from the restaurant.

“The problem is,” I say into the heavy silence, “what you saw isn’t what you testified to seeing.” I don’t even know why I’m explaining this to her.

“I didn’t lie.”

“Yes, you did.”

“I think I’d know. I can’t look at you without seeing what happened that night.”

The venom in her voice should upset me, but that would require caring what she thinks, and quite simply, I don’t. I know the truth. She doesn’t. As long as she keeps that tone out of her voice in public, she can speak to me however she pleases when we’re alone. It’ll just make what’s coming all the more sweeter.

“I’ll pick you up at eight in the morning.”

“What for?”

“Breakfast. It’s going to be a busy day.”

“I don’t want to have breakfast with you.”

“As we’ve already discussed, what you want isn’t relevant anymore. I’ll pick you up at eight. We’ll go to a cafe in town, and spend an hour being seen. Then I have a list of tasks you’ll need to do.”

“Tasks? What tasks?”

“I’ll arrange for the wedding to take place at the weekend. That means there will be paperwork we both need to fill in. You’ll need to contact your landlord to end your lease. If you have to pay an early release fee for that to happen, let me know and I’ll give you the money. You’ll also have to let your job know you won’t be returning, and,” I glance over at her, “of course, you’ll need to end things with Scott.”

“What?”

I snort. “Don’t even pretend to be outraged by that. If you had any kind of feelings for the man, you wouldn’t have agreed to marry me. You’d have already been on the phone to him to tell him what I’m doing, and ask for his advice on what to do. And you haven’t done that, have you?” I glance over at her, one eyebrow raised.

---