Page 21 of Fatal Attraction

“Relax,” he whispered as his rough, calloused hands enclosed around mine. “Close your eyes and take a deep breath.”

I did as he instructed and blew out the air, repeating the process. It helped. Some.

“Remember,” he said, his voice strong and full of a confidence I only wished I could tap into. His hands left mine, and he took a stealthy step back to give me some room. “Don’t panic. When you’re in the sight of danger, knowing you’re seconds away from death, you don’t think, you shoot. It’s your life, or theirs. You donothesitate.”

The darkness in his words made me shiver.

“I know it sounds unfair, and maybe it is, but that’s how it is when it comes to survival.”

“You sound like Spike,” I whispered.

“And he’s a smart man,” Carter said somewhat fondly, the smile heard in his tone. “Both he and Phoenix are very smart men. You’re lucky to have them.”

“Yeah.” I smiled, holding and aiming the gun right where I wanted. “I guess I am.” I fired, shocking myself when I hit the first can, and it tumbled off the bucket.

Holy fuck…

I actually did it!

“Again,” Carter demanded. “Don’t lose focus.”

Casting the excitement aside, I started again, missing the second and third can but striking the fourth.

“Not bad,” he approved, nodding from the corner of my eye, a smile touching his lips. “Not bad at all. But you can do better.”

I knew I could have, but for my first time, I’d taken it as a huge win. As I locked my aim back in place, ready to pick back up where I left off, my phone began ringing.

I sighed, carefully clicking on the safety before handing the gun over to Carter. I retrieved my phone from my dress pocket and answered it without reading the display.

“Hello?”

My body bristled when I heard the automated voice from the Seaview Pines jailhouse informing me that I had a collect call from Karl. Blowing out a shaky breath, I accepted the charges, straining not to cry when, “I’m so sorry, Charlotte,” met my ears.

“It’s all over the news,” he said softly. “Did… Did they find the guy yet?”

“No.” I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. “Not yet. Hopefully some of the results should be in today.”

“Do you know about the masks?”

I swallowed, my heart sinking at the reminder. “Yes. The detectives filled me in a few days ago, when we were picking Blaire’s husband up from the airport.”

“And what about Kate’s parents?” he asked. “Have you spoken with them yet?”

“I haven’t had time,” I lied, regretting the words once they were out.

“Then what the fuck have you been doing? Ben told me Harley will be meeting with us soon to discuss a plea deal.”

“I know,” I growled, cursing softly as I pulled the phone away from my ear long enough to get my emotions back in order. “I know, Karl. I’m sorry I’m not moving my ass as fast as you would like, but my best friend was just murdered, okay? Give me a fucking break.”

“And what the hell do you think will happen to me if I get convicted?” he snarled through the phone. “I’m not taking the plea deal, Charlotte. So, unless you wantmydeath resting on your conscious as well, I suggest you do like I asked and fuckinghelp me.”

I scoffed and then hung up, calling him every foul name I could think of under my breath. He was right, though. I was running out of time. I’d been so busy grieving and trying to help Carter figure out Blaire’s funeral arrangements that I’d completely cast Karl aside. It wasn’t on purpose, but this was just a lot to have thrown on top of my shoulders, and the weight was unbearably hard to carry alone.

“Are you okay?”

I raised a finger to Carter and then angled my attention back to my phone, scrolling through my contacts.

“Hey,” Ben, Karl’s lawyer, answered after the third ring. “How are you, Charlotte?”

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