Page 10 of Never Fear (Whiskey Ridge)
A figure appeared in my headlights, snapping me out of my thoughts. A scream caught in my throat as my heart surged, pounding against my ribs like a bullet.
The being lifted its head to reveal that it was only a deer, now staring right through my windshield. I forced a full breath down to the depths of my lungs.
“Just a deer,” I told myself, my clammy hands slick on the leather wheel. “Not an axe murderer coming to make good on their promise.”
But fuck, it could’ve been.
I clicked the button on the door to engage all the locks, then shifted into reverse and headed down the road.
My paranoia was getting the best of me. Being scared over a fucking deer? I’d seen the damn animal and knew what it was, but it hadn’t stopped my immediate panic. I was almost more pissed at the asshole for leaving anominous note rather than taking action and killing me on the spot. But I supposed that was the point—to make me overthink.
As my car dipped and bounced over small bumps in the road that would take me to the highway leading back to town, another pair of headlights appeared behind me, almost out of nowhere. The light was blinding—it was clear they had their brights on, but that wasn’t unusual out here during nightfall.
Grace also wasn’t the only one who lived down this stretch of forest, so I passed it off as one of her neighbors. I wasn’t going to keep freaking myself out for no reason. I was fine.
My car approached the stop sign, and while I signaled to go right, the other car went the opposite way, turning left. I hadn’t realized I’d been gripping the wheel so hard until I pulled out onto the road and my fingers began to ache.
I wiggled them over the leather, attempting to ease the tension that had settled in my bones. But it seemed futile as I watched their taillights fading into the night behind me, chills skating over my spine.
Maybe it wasn’t them, but someone was out there. Someone who wanted to scare me.
And it wasn’t just Austin.
Chapter 4
McKenna
Despite taking a long, hot shower after I got home last night to rid myself of the chills, I barely slept. I’d taken another shower this morning, and after drying my hair, I’d thrown it up into a high ponytail with my favorite pink scrunchie before curling thick sections of it.
Satisfied with the way my long blonde strands bounced far past my shoulders, I threw my puffy brown jacket over my work uniform and headed for the door. I grabbed my purse and keys off the small table in the front entry and reached for the handle. But as soon as I opened the door, I froze.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I practically screeched.
Austin gave no response as he immediately stepped forward, walking me backwards and invading my space. This man sucked the oxygen from my lungs—in all the wrong ways. Call it anger or irritation, but I couldn’t help the warmth that pooled in my center at his nearness.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he stated, his voice low and…tired? He slammed the door shut behind him, causing my brows to skyrocket up my forehead.
“Sorry, what?” Even though he had room to move away, he stayed near, staring down at me with those caramel eyes. “I have to go to work. You know, the thing that pays my bills.”
His jaw ticked. “Not today, you’re not.”
My teeth ground together. How fucking dare he—“Yes, I am.” My hands moved of their own accord, palms flat on his chest as I started to shove, but he quickly caught my wrists in a strong grip. Then we were moving backwards, both our hands caught between us.
My back banged into the wall at the end of my front entry, so hard that the picture frames rattled. He gripped my wrists tighter, cocking his head the slightest bit like he was studying me. Was he waiting for some kind of reaction? Because if he wanted one, I could provide.
“Someone has a target on your head. You’re. Not. Leaving.”
I ripped my hands from his grasp. “We know that. I got the letter, remember? It’s been days and nothing has happened. I think I’m in the clear.”
Utter annoyance flashed in his gaze. Was that mixed with rage?
“And the crow on your car?”
My carefully constructed mask of annoyance slipped, my brows tugging together. “What?”
I expected an amused look on his face, but instead, all I received was his same cold stare. “I was checking around your house when I saw it sitting on the hood of your car. Ifthe letter isn’t enough to make you watch your fucking back, maybe a dead bird will be.”
I was about to give some snappy retort back when my brain registered what he’d just said. “Wait.Checking around my house? What are you, some kind of fucking psycho security guard?” I shook my head. Of course, he was keeping tabs on where I lived. “How do I know you didn’t put it there to scare me?”
