“Bees?” Deanna said. “Your security system is bees?”

“That’s right,” Samantha replied. She took a diet soda from the refrigerator and walked to the front door, where she watched Abby shake bees from the hive. Swarms of them flew in every direction. The last of the diehard photographers took off running. “It’s quite effective.”

“Are you doing okay? I know it’s been crazy.”

Samantha popped the top of the can and listened to the hiss of carbonation escape. ‘Crazy’ didn’t begin to describe the past week.

Whirlwind.

Fabulous.

Terrifying.

Heartbreaking.

There were a hundred words that could describe the past week. ‘Crazy’ was not the one she’d choose. “I don’t know. It’s been hard to watch Dalton get dragged through the court of public opinion. He’s been great through it all. Keeps telling me that what we have is bigger than what anyone can throw at us, but I’m worried he’ll change his mind.”

“He sounds like a good man. Seems to have a handle on it. Don’t worry. He’ll let you know if it’s too much.”

Samantha walked away from the front door to the back of the house, where the windows faced the lake. She wished she could open the blinds and enjoy the view. The ice on the lake was melting, and the water had lapped up onto the shore. It made a soft, comforting swish she wished she could hear, but she’d seen more than one reporter ignore the sheriff’s warning and sneak behind the cabin on the unlikely chance they’d get a sellable shot. Maybe they simply avoided the sting of Abby’s bees.

“I’m not sure he would tell me. Look at what he’s been through. Compared to prison, I’m sure everything is bearable. I don’t want to be someone he has to bear.”

“Believe me, there are days when you are unbearable.” Deanna’s laughter filled the phone. “Show me a day when I can’t sneak you a piece of chocolate, and I’ll show you unbearable.”

“Now you’re being mean.”

Deanna sighed. “No … mean is trying to cancel the benefit concert because the sponsor is stupid.”

Samantha sank into the soft leather of her couch. “No. Tell me they’re not trying to cancel it.” She couldn’t believe the Domestic Abuse Co-op would give up the hundreds of thousands of dollars the concert would pull in.

The silence on Deanna’s end said it all. “It’s not a firm no. We’re talking about the potential to lose lots of money here. As you know, money talks, but they aren’t happy with Mr. Black’s background. Something about a pop star who’s in love with a violent man can’t be the poster child against domestic abuse.”

“He’s not that guy. If they could only meet him. He’s kind and loving and—”

“I know, a good kisser among other things. Where is the hottie now?” Deanna had been sending Samantha all the pictures the press had taken and posted. She couldn’t argue with her. Dalton Black was one handsome man. He even looked good in prison orange. Like Indigo, he had that bad-boy image, but inside he was as sweet as Sam’s Scoops ice cream.

“He worked all morning, so he went home to shower and change. He’s coming back later to binge watch Supernatural with me.”

“You’re killing me. You have the hottest man I’ve ever seen in your cabin, and you’re going to watch television?”

“We can’t stay in bed all day.”

“Why not?”

“Because people have to work.” She picked up her notepad and looked at the pages of lyrics she’d written since she arrived in Aspen Cove. She had a whole album penned, from a song of hope called ‘One Hundred Wishes’ to a love song called ‘In the Gray’.

“Speaking of work, all we need is a studio and a bass player to fill out your crew.”

“Seriously? Dave has fired everyone else?” The thought of Dave Belton made Samantha’s blood boil. She’d fantasized several times a day about seeing him face to face. Each time in her imagination, she fisted up and let him have it.

In reality, that wouldn’t happen because the one thing Samantha knew about Dave was, he’d never let her win. She might get the first word in, maybe even get a hit, but he’d come out the victor.

“Yep, everyone but the bass player.”

She set her soda can on the table and rolled up to a standing position. Samantha paced the room in front of the fireplace. “I haven’t heard from him in days. I don’t get what his end game is. If I don’t have a crew, I can’t make the music he wants. Where is this going?”

“You know him. He’s killing you by a thousand tiny cuts. He doesn’t know you’ve hired everyone. I’ve told them not to say anything. I’m pretty sure he thinks once your soft heart bleeds for a while, you’ll give in. He knows you too well.”

Deanna was right. She’d do anything for her crew. She’d sacrifice herself for them if she had to, but over the last two weeks, she realized she didn’t have to. She held all the cards. She could move forward without Dave, but he’d never survive without her. She liked the power that position gave her.

“That was the old Samantha. That girl is gone, and in her place is me. I’ll still bleed for my crew, but I can no longer fear Dave. It gives him too much power. Too much control.”

“Rahrrr,” Deanna growled. “Who let you out of your cage?”

“Me. I broke out. I’m tired of living in captivity. Tired of letting life live me instead of the other way around.” A light knock sounded at the door. “Gotta go. Dalton’s here.”

“Skip Supernatural and go for the sheets,” Deanna said before Samantha hung up. She had to agree. The sheets sounded appealing.

She rushed to the door. “You could have walked inside,” she said as she swung it wide open, but it wasn’t Dalton standing in front of her. It was Dave Belton, and he was pissed.

Her inner lion roared and then whimpered.

“You need to leave.”

He flicked the stub of his filterless cigarette onto the deck and stepped forward.

She stepped back, her eyes on the hot ember and the wood.

“I don’t need to do anything.” He leaned against the rail of her back porch like he belonged there. “You need to do a lot. You can start by apologizing and packing.”

She stepped forward and closed the door behind her. With the rubber sole of her tennis shoe, she ground the ash into the wood surface until it was extinguished. “You can burn down my house, but you won’t get your way.” All Dave thought about was Dave. It showed in every action from what he said to the careless tossing of his ember. “I’m not coming with you. You need to leave,” she repeated. She hated the way her voice shook. What would Deanna think now that her roar had turned into a meow?

He shifted back and forth like a boxer. Definitely high. Dave always got jittery when he was coked out. “You need to come with me.” He reached forward and gripped her left wrist, squeezing it hard.

“Don’t touch me,” she yelled. She pulled back, breaking his iron-fisted hold.

He raised his hands as if in surrender, but she knew better. Dave wasn’t one to throw in the towel. “Look at you.” He scanned her body from head to toe. “Two weeks, and you’ve gone to shit. You’re fat and out of shape. Your hair …” He shook his head. “It’s a good thing I’m here. You’ve had your fun, now it’s time to get back to work.” He shriveled his nose in the way people did when they smelled something bad. “We have so much work to do.”

“No.” She had no idea where the word came from or where she got the strength to shout it. No one said no to Dave.

He pushed forward, taking a threatening step in her direction. “You owe me.”

That statement was laughable. She pressed herself to the door. “I don’t owe you anything. You’ve made a fortune on my talents. Without me, you have nothing.” Gone was any semblance of calm. Her voice hit a decibel level that shook the windows behind her.

“I made you,” he yelled.

“Wrong. I made you. No more. I don’t need you to manage me. I’m a twenty-nine-year-old woman.”

“Then act like it.” He reached for her again and clamped his hand over her already sore wrist.

There was a flurry of motion. Several reporters stood by the lake, watching the action unfold. To Samantha’s left, she watched Dalton come out of his cabin and take in the scene. A murderous look fell over his face when he saw Dave’s hand on her. He hopped over the rail of his deck and raced forward. She knew in her heart if Dalton got to her before she took control of the situation, he’d be in jail for another murder.

Instead of allowing that to happen, Samantha pulled her right fist back and swung with all the might a hundred-and-ten-pound woman could throw. One hundred and ten because she knew she’d gained some weight. Her pants were tight, and the asshole told her she was fat. That was reason enough for her to strike. Add to that ten years of abuse, and she had her justification. When she connected with his nose, she heard the crunch of cartilage or bone.

Dave let her go. Both of his hands went to his face, where blood dripped between his fingers to her deck. He staggered back and stumbled down the stairs to the pine covered ground.

Dalton bolted past Dave and straight to Samantha, who cradled her right hand to her chest. She’d never hit anyone before. Inside, she felt amazing. She’d finally stuck up for herself. She’d shut a bully down. She didn’t believe in fighting violence with violence, but with Dalton rushing to her aid, she had little choice but to get Dave’s hands off of her before Dalton put his on the asshole.

“Are you okay?” Dalton placed himself between Samantha and Dave.

“You stupid bitch,” Dave yelled from his place on the ground. “You’ve done it now.” He stumbled to his feet and came forward. He was high, and high never meant smart.

Samantha tried to move in front of Dalton, but he kept her pinned behind him.

“You need to back away.” Dalton’s voice was low and deadly.

“Or what? Are you going to kill me too?” Dave pulled his phone out of his pocket.

“Dalton, stop. I’m hurt, and Dave Belton isn’t worth it.” She knew if she distracted him, he’d come to her rescue. It wasn’t a lie. She was hurt. The crunch she heard was more than Dave’s nose if the pain shooting through her hand was any hint. “I think I broke my hand.”

By this time, the waterfront was full of paparazzi. They didn’t care if they were breaking the law by trespassing on private property. All they cared about was getting the shot.

“I’m calling the police,” Dave said.

Samantha peeked around Dalton’s big body and said, “Good, you’re going to need them when I press charges.”

Her heart sank when she heard the asshole talk into his phone, “I want to press charges against Dalton Black. He assaulted me.”

Samantha’s world turned dark. “You liar. I hit you.”

Dave hung up the phone. “Who will believe that? This only ends one way, Samantha. You come back to California, and it’ll all go away. Stay here, and I’ll make sure everything you have goes up in flames.”

Minutes later, Sheriff Cooper arrived. He took statements from everyone, then turned to Dalton. “Dave Belton accused you of hitting him.”

Dalton looked at Samantha and back to Sheriff Cooper. “He’s a liar.”

“I’m taking you both in until this is all cleared up,” the sheriff said.

A gut-wrenching cry left Samantha. “He didn’t do it.” She raced toward Dalton, throwing her arms around him. Ignoring the pain in her hand because it came nowhere close to the pain in her heart. “I’m so sorry. This is my fault. I’ll fix it.”

Dalton cupped her face and kissed her. “No, sweetheart.” He looked at the idiot. “This is his fault.”

While Sheriff Cooper placed Dalton in his cruiser, Deputy Sheriff Bancroft took custody of Dave. It was a bittersweet moment to see him being placed in the police car. A heartbreaking moment to watch Dalton being driven away.

Standing alone on the back porch of her cabin, she turned to the press. “You wanted a story?” she yelled. “This is your story. Will you tell the truth? I challenge you to report the damn truth for a change.”

Cannon came running up the beach. “What the hell happened?”

Samantha broke down and cried. “I’ve ruined Dalton’s life.”

Cannon hung his arm over her shoulders and walked her to his truck. “Let’s get you to Doc’s, then we’ll figure out what the hell we’re going to do about Dalton.”

Samantha explained the situation to Cannon on their way into town. “He didn’t do anything. He raced to help me. I’m the one who hit Dave.”

“Any witnesses?”

“Yes, many. But will they come forward?” Samantha wasn’t sure. It was his word against hers. Dave Belton’s accusation turned everything upside down.