Page 83 of The Engagement Party

He stopped walking. Stopped following her around in a daze like a lost puppy. “And the promise about contacting the police?”

She glanced at him over her shoulder. “I never promised that.”

He’d devoted his life to a woman who claimed to love him and promised to support him. She’d been so strong back then. So in charge when his mind had turned to mush and fear had overtaken his reason. Now he wondered if she felt anything. “Do you hear yourself?”

She finally stopped moving. “The only other choice was tokill all three of them, wipe out the witnesses, and I couldn’t. I thought about it . . .”

Kill them. “Cassie, what’s going on in your head? You sound as sick as Dylan.”

“Don’t you dare judge me.” She waved the gun around, unhinged and uncharacteristically out of control as she stalked back up the slight incline to him. “I’ve been the one to hold us together. I kept you out of prison all those years ago by giving you an alibi the night Emily died and another one for the night you killed Brendan. You owe me.”

She’d lied for him. Now she’d lie to preserve everything she’d built even if it meant sacrificing him. “The guilt will eat you alive.”

She snorted. “It hasn’t so far.”

“It will kill me.”

“Would you rather go to prison and never see Zara again? Because I will make that happen. I’ll say you threatened me to keep your secret and then beg the court to take your parental rights away.”

There it was. Her final card. He sensed she’d play it but hearing the words sounded so stark. Like an ending.

He hated her. He really fucking hated her. “How long have you been waiting to issue that threat?”

She used the gun to point at the canoe tied to the dock and bobbing in the water before pointing it at him. “Get in, Alex. As with every other part of our lives, I’m taking charge. Be grateful and move.”

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Sierra

Numb.That was the word that floated into Sierra’s clouded mind. She’d naïvely believed Cassie’s love and years of affection for Mitch would protect him, but when the time came she’d picked her lifestyle over his life.

“Your friends suck.” The words lacked punch, but Sierra wanted to make her position clear. If they got off this island, if they caught up with his wayward friends, she wouldn’t hesitate to dismantle the comfortable world they’d created. Sierra’s only hesitation was Zara, their daughter. She needed them... or someone.

Mitch blew out a long breath. “Agree.”

“She’s really hoping for aLord of the Fliesmoment and that she comes back to find us dead and Dylan on the run.” Despite everything and all her investigations into this group of people, Ruthie sounded stunned by the idea.

“We’re not giving her that satisfaction.” Sierra looked up and watched the gray clouds roll over each other. The light rain had turned to a fine mist but darker skies lurked in the distance. They needed to move. “Rope.”

Ruthie frowned. “Excuse me?”

“We need to tie him up.” And soon. She’d hit Dylan hard, but he could wake up any moment or, worse, he could be pretending and spring up for another round.

“The zip ties are in his pocket.” Mitch crouched down and checked Dylan’s neck.

“Pulse?” Sierra asked.

“Unfortunately.”

Ruthie reached into Dylan’s pocket and pulled out two zip ties. She didn’t look up as she used the ties to bind Dylan’s hands together, then his feet. When she stood up, she stepped back as if expecting Dylan to rise up and attack like a twice-killed villain in a bad horror movie. “Is that good enough?”

“He’s not superhuman.”

Sierra hoped Mitch was right about that.

Ruthie didn’t look convinced. “Okay, now what?”

Other than burning down the rest of the house and hoping someone would see the fire, Sierra could only think of one option. One that would subject them to a whole new set of dangers. “The old rowboat.”

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