Page 37 of Say You Won't Let Go
“Hello, Emily.” The deep voice that isn’t Wade’s causes my heart to plummet. “Glad I finally got you alone.”
Chapter Thirteen
Emily
“What do you want?” I take a step back as he moves closer.
“Don’t walk away, sweetheart. I’ve been waiting a long time to have your attention all to myself.” The man keeps himself in the shadows.
I pray that Luke comes back now. I grip my phone, contemplating whether I can get a call out without the man in front of me noticing.
“You and I haven’t had time alone in a while.” He hums with satisfaction. “I’ve missed you.”
I can’t place his voice. It’s familiar, but nothing is ringing a bell.
Every muscle in my body tenses, and I glance to the neon exit sign before deciding the emergency exit just off stage is closer. “You have?” I flip the phone backward to hide the light.
His silhouette shifts to the curtain a little farther back, further shielding his face. “I did, up until the last few weeks.”
My heart is pounding so hard against my chest I swear he can hear it. “What changed?” I ask and try to follow his movements, but he’s staying completely out of the light.
“I think you know, baby.”
His term of endearment makes me sick. “I really don’t.”
His chuckle is menacing. “Maybe you should call Cooper Townsend again,” he suggests.
My breathing accelerates, and I struggle to hold on to control. “Cooper?”
“Don’t play stupid,” he warns. “I know all about your new boyfriend. I was actually just in Tennessee this week...”
I can almost hear the smile in his voice. This guy is completely insane, and I’ve never been more terrified of anyone or anything in my life. “Why were you there?”
“Just checking on things...” He moves again, and I take a step back.
Nothing about what he’s saying makes sense. My hands start to shake, bile burns my throat, and I can feel the band of tightness restricting my lungs. I have to get a call out to someone. I push the button, and the phone brightens the dark space. He makes a low, menacing sound.
“Don’t think about it,” he warns. “If you try to call for help, you’ll push me to do something drastic. Put the phone on the ground.”
My hands hold tighter, wanting to do the opposite of what he’s requesting. Now, I’m the dumb girl on television who you scream at not to listen to the attacker.
“You know, there’s a lot of things in your hometown that I never knew about. Did you know there was some big crime that happened?”
I gasp and know without him telling me that he is the one who cut down Cooper’s fencing. “Why are you doin’ this?” I ask breathlessly.
“To show you the lengths I’ll go to keep us together, baby. I’m the one you’re supposed to be with,” he says with conviction. “I’m fighting for you, Emily. He’s worried about his precious cows, and I’m here for you. He doesn’t deserve you, and I’ll keep showing you his true colors. Now, drop the fucking phone.”
My fingers release the lifeline I had, and I pray he doesn’t hurt anyone. Most of all Cooper. “Please,” I beg. “Please don’t do anything to him. You don’t have to do this.”
The man’s deep sigh filters around me. “All you have to do is see what I’m showing you. Once you get rid of him, you and I can be happy. Otherwise, you’ll piss me off, and I’ll have no choice...”
Tears begin to fall at his threats to hurt Cooper. “I’m sorry,” I say, hoping he’ll stop. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“Stop crying!” he yells, and I stagger back. “You don’t fucking cry for him in front of me.”
“I wasn’t.” The lie comes out in a broken mess of words. It’s clear that Cooper is an issue, so I change the subject to my stalker. “I’m cryin’ because I was stupid not to see what you’re saying is true. I was so stupid, and I’m sorry!”
He moves out from behind the curtain, but not enough for me to see anything other than he’s tall, has dark hair that’s cut close to the skin, and is dressed in all black. “Turn around. Face the audience,” he commands. “We’ll see each other once you’ve earned it.”
