Page 105 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

Roman’s mouth opened and closed. He shook his head as if in disbelief. “To get Anastasia.”

47

NASH

Nash gunned the gas as the four-wheeler climbed the path towards the clearing that he’d visited countless times. As soon as he reached the meadow, he forced himself to slow down enough to pull out the letter and map.

Nash,

I think it’s about time you got some answers. You see, I know what it is like to be a casualty to these women. Anastasia is just the first. But she won’t be the last.

It’s time for you two to be reunited. So, follow my map and you’ll find her in the grove where she took me five years ago to tell me all about what happened between you two. Only I know the truth.

I can’t say I’ve ever felt sorry for someone before—it’s just not an emotion I am capable of. But if I could be, I’d like to think it would be for you. For putting up with a lying, cheating, manipulator like Anastasia. She would have bled you dry like she did so many others before you.

She took something important from me that I couldn’t get back. So I took her life for ruining mine.

And now, it’s time to finish this.

The slashes across the paper tore his chest to ribbons as his mind continued to spin. Ana had been targeted by some psycho. He cut the engine and jumped off his ATV, grabbing the shovel tied to the back with one hand and scrutinizing the map with the other.

A symbol carved into the tree matched the one on the map. A line drawn in a circle. Below it was a pile of rocks covered in lichen and moss. He ripped them up one at a time, tossing them to the side until he reached bare earth. Worms and beetles scattered as he folded the letter and put it in his pocket. Nash heaved the shovel down, putting all his weight on it as his heartbeat drummed in his ears, making them ring.

Ana couldn’t have been here the whole time. No. It’s not possible. This is some sick joke.

Sweat poured down his forehead, mixing with dirt and grime. He didn’t stop. He kept digging. Part of him begged the universe for her not to be there. But his exhausted soul just wanted answers.

A piece of dark fabric caught his eye as his vision darkened. His lungs refused to work, turning to solid stone.

No. Nonononono. It’s not real.

He fell to his knees, gripping handfuls of cold dirt. The smell of musty, wet earth was stifling as he cleared it away. The pattern on the material was the final blow. As dark and mud-stained as it was, he could just make out the navy-blue flowers of the dress Ana had been wearing the night she disappeared.

A tortured sound scraped from his throat, pulled from the depths of his soul.

The events of that night flashing through his mind like a nightmare.

A line of shot glasses lined up in front of Ana. Her sweet perfume was tinged with something more masculine. It wasn’t the first time. But when he confronted her about it, she’d blamed him of being a jealous asshole.

“I was thinking we could have the wedding at this place I found in Vermont. It’s called The Orchard Inn. The pictures are nice. Maybe we can take a trip there next weekend when I get back from my trip to California and scout it out? Get away from everything for a weekend,” Nash suggested, pulling the label from his beer.

Music from the live band made it hard to hear her response, so he leaned in.

“What’s that?”

Finally, she looked at him. Her blue eyes were guarded as usual. “I don’t think so. We’re busy at work. I can’t take more time off.”

“We could just do an overnight. Saturday to Sunday.”

“Why are you pushing this?” she snapped.

His brows furrowed. “Why are you avoiding it? Whenever I bring up the wedding or plans for the house, you shut me out or change the subject. What’s going on, babe?”

Sadness seeped into her gaze seeming so bone-deep it caught him off guard. She blinked, and a moment later, the mask of indifference was back on her face. “Nothing. I’m just tired.” She took one of the shots and then downed another without a chaser. The movement caused her hair to slip over her shoulder, revealing a hickey that he sure as hell hadn’t put there.

“What the fuck is this?” he growled, pressing his finger to the offending mark.

Her eyes widened, panic flashing in them before her gaze averted to Charli, the bartender at the Shipwreck. She waved her down. “Another shot, please.”

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