Page 75 of Secrets in Calusa Cove

“And you’re about to find out just how sick I really am.”

CHAPTER15

Audra’s pulsepounded in her ears. Hearing Paul’s menacing words about what he’d done to Trevor burned like acid in her throat.

It also brought back her nightmare, which replayed in her mind like a horror movie stuck on the same loop. However, this time, it was as clear as the lightning flashing in the morning sky.

Two distinct male voices. There was no mistaking who they were now.

Paul and his son Benson. One had hit her over the head… the other had shoved her father into a swarm of alligators.

Tears burned her raw eyes.

Paul rocked back on his heels. “I have to admit, I was a little worried when Fletcher and you boys came to Calusa Cove—my quiet little town. I mean, it’s been hard enough dealing with people like Silas, especially after I had to get rid of Trevor. Silas is actually a smart man. I’ve been dodging him for years, but he’s always been a bit like Victor, whether he wants to believe it or not.”

Audra sat up a little taller. She jerked her head and blew out a puff of air, but it wasn’t strong enough to move the hair from her face. She tried again, huffing, hooting, and howling.

Paul laughed. “Fucking Stigini.” He reached out and brushed her hair from her face. “Crazy little wild redhead. You were a freak as a kid, running around town with knots in your hair and dirty feet.”

“Kiss my ass.” She lifted her chin, staring directly into his soulless eyes. “I know who you are and what you did. I remember.” She choked on the last two words.

“You don’t know shit.” Paul leaned closer. “And whatever you think you know, it was all just a bad dream.” He tossed his head back and laughed. “Oh, and I do know you had nightmares. Everyone talked about you screaming like you were dying when you were in that hospital bed. And Silas?” Paul shook his head. “I can’t believe he took you in. He felt so bad for you, listening to you toss and turn all night, yelling and crying. It was such a shame. But it was all just one big bad dream.”

“You should’ve killed me the night you killed my father, you douchebag.”

The right corner of Paul’s mouth turned upward, and if eyes could smirk, his did exactly that. “Perhaps.”

“So you admit it.” With every intake of breath, her chest hurt. But she needed the words. Needed to hearhimsay it. “You’re going to kill me now anyway, so be a man and admit it.”

Paul leaned so close Audra could smell the coffee on his breath. His sinister smile burned a hole in her heart so deep that if she weren’t tied up, she could easily coil her fingers around his neck and squeeze until he no longer sucked in breath and his heart stopped beating. “Your father believed in myths. Legends. Conspiracy theories. And pirates. He knew something was going on back here. He had a weird sense about it. All his random jibber-jabber made it easier for me to hide what I was doing. It kept people like Silas and Trip off my ass.” He cupped her chin.

“Get your hands off her,” Dawson said with a deep, menacing growl.

Paul laughed, squeezing her cheeks. “It’s been harder for me without you and your crazy father. I’ve had to move around from island to island all these years. But I’ve managed.” He gave her cheek a little slap. “Yes. I killed your old man, and I left you out here. I didn’t care if you lived or died.” He laughed. “I knew if you managed to survive, your brand of crazy would make everyone think you’d killed your father, especially because of that fight.”

“Trip believed me.” She lifted her chin. “And so did Silas.”

“Maybe so. But that didn’t last because you slinked away in the middle of the night. It made you look guilty as hell. It gave us more to question. We could all stand around the docks or buy vegetables at the stand and whisper,She sold off everything. Took the money and ran because she killed him and got away with it.”

She couldn’t sit there a second longer and listen to the bastard. “Only, I’m not guilty. You are.” She whipped her lower body around, swinging her legs across the floor, catching his ankles.

He jerked, stumbled backward, lost his footing, and fell on his back. His weapon landed on the floor inches from Dawson.

Dawson inched his body toward the gun.

Benson raced across the room. He kicked the gun away from Dawson and then raised the butt of his weapon, nailing Dawson in the gut.

He groaned, doubling over.

“You’re a fucking little cunt,” Benson grabbed her by the hair and yanked hard.

She spit in his face.

“Bitch.” He backhanded her with brute force. She hadn’t thought he had that much power, but she tasted metal. Blood trickled from her lips.

“You’re going to pay for that one,” Dawson managed to cough out, leaning back toward the wall and pushing himself closer. “You okay?” he whispered, catching her gaze.

“I’ll live,” she said, glaring at Benson.

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