“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I sneer and push Steven’s hand out of the way.

“You really don’t want to test me.” Steven takes a step closer and I move away.

“Get away from me, Steven. I mean it.”

He laughs. “What are you going to do about it? Drug me again? Go ahead. Maybe I can get your ass arrested this time.”

“So this is about vengeance?” I slide my foot back, thinking if I can keep him talking, I’ll have a better chance of getting away. I’m in the worst spot possible, between a fence and parked cars. I need to get to the road or get back to the venue. “You’re mad I turned you in?”

“I’m mad about the lost time, Ana. Over a year went by. We should be planning our wedding by now.”

“You’re fucking crazy, you know that, right?”

“And you’re a fucking bitch. I know you know that.”

“Maybe I am.” I start to move my hand down the straps of my purse. If I can’t get away, then I can call 911. “So why want me?”

“Because I love you, Ana.”

“You don’t know what love is.”

Steven takes a quick step forward and I jolt back, hitting the fence. I use the collision to grab my phone from my purse.

“And you do?” he growls. “You know all about love from the short time you’ve been with your loser boyfriend.”

I know he’s trying to make me upset by insulting Cole, and my lack of reaction will piss him off. I’ve been a pawn for so long I can play the game.

And win this time.

“Cole’s a better man than you’ll ever be.” I put the phone behind my back, pressing the screen against me to shield the light. I blindly tap the screen, trying to unlock the phone without looking at it.

“That might be true. But he’ll never love you the way I love you. I care about you more than anyone. And how do you repay me? By sending me to prison. But I’m willing to look past that.”

“Fuck you.” My phone vibrates, letting me know I put in the wrong passcode. Fuck. Steven moves closer.

“You didn’t comment on my costume.”

“You’re wearing a—” I cut off when I see the blood splattered on Steven’s white shirt. It’s more brown than red now, but I remember it perfectly. That was the night he hit me and broke multiple bones in my face. He hit me in the nose first, and I bled instantly. I stumbled forward and blood splattered on him. He got mad that I ruined his favorite shirt and hit me again, with the blow that fractured my cheekbone. He wiped his hand on his shirt after that, and when the police looked for that shirt to be used as evidence, it was gone.

“So you remember?” He smiles, but his eyes are empty. Then my phone rings, and I bring my hand in front of me to answer. Steven shoves me hard in the chest and takes the phone, nails scratching my flesh in the process.

He hangs up.

“It’s Cole,” he says. “Probably wondering where you are. Which is a good question. Because why are you out here, Ana?”

“That’s none of your fucking business.”

“It is. Your business is my business.”

The phone rings again. Steven grabs me, wrapping his hand around my neck in a chokehold, and answers the phone.

“Cole!” I scream only to have my voice die in my throat as Steven tightens his grip. I can’t get any air and my body goes into a panic to breathe.

“Hello, Cole,” Steven says coolly. “I’m afraid Ana can’t talk right now.” He hangs up and throws my phone over the fence. I’m gasping for air and not thinking. I jerk my head back and the metal Wonder Woman headpiece falls over my eyes.

I’m only dressed as a superhero, but that doesn’t mean I have to be a victim. I gather the remaining strength I have and dig my fingernails into Steven’s arm that’s around my throat and lift my foot up, kicking behind me and nailing him right in the balls. Steven pitches forward, grip loosening enough for me to get an arm free. I elbow him hard in the face and take off running.

And then I see him with his back turned and cell phone pressed to his ear.

“Cole!” I call, tears filling my eyes. He turns around and runs to me, pulling me into a protective embrace.

“Are you okay?”

I’m shaking from head to foot, my neck hurts, and my hand burns from where Steven scratched me. But I’m alive.

“I think so.”

“I’m so sorry, Ana,” Cole says, pushing my hair back. The headpiece fell off in the struggle, and my loose curls are in my face, sticking to my sweaty flesh. Cole pulls me to him again, and right now the apology can wait. “You left and then he answered your phone and I thought he…fuck. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“You’re here,” I whisper. “I’m okay now.”

Cole kisses my forehead and I close my eyes, trying to get my pulse to slow down before I have a heart attack.

“Did he hurt you?” Cole looks over my shoulder, surveying the darkness behind me.

“He tried.” I close my eyes, still able to feel the force of Steven’s arms around my chest, pulling so tight it hurt. My hands tremble even harder now. “I kicked him in the balls and broke away. He’ll come back. He always comes back.”

Cole holds me tighter, gently running a hand over my hair. Steven will run away with his tail tucked between his legs, take a day to come up with another plan of attack, and then will hit harder. And harder. Until I break.

But I won’t this time.

“We should call the police,” I say.

“I already did,” Cole starts and holds up his phone. “I should let the dispatcher—” He’s cut off when something hurdles through the air and hits me on the shoulder.

“Ahhh,” I exclaim, hand flying to the pain.

“Ana?”

I bring back my hand and see blood on my fingers. On the ground near our feet is a jagged shard of metal.

“Fucking hell.” Cole whirls around, hands curling into fists. A dark shadow dances behind a parked car, and Cole takes off, ready to beat the shit out of Steven. Everything happens so fast: Cole is right there in front of Steven, fist raised. And then a bright light blinds us both. I close my eyes and look down, and the next thing I know, someone grabs me, dragging me off the sidewalk and into the bushes. No one from the venue can see me now.

“Ana!” Cole yells and sprints forward. He jumps through the bushes and onto Steven, knocking him to the ground. I go down with them and break free from Steven’s grasp. Steven tries to make a dash for it, but Cole grabs him by the back of his collar, spins him around, and punches him in the face.

“If you fucking come near Ana again, I’ll kill you,” Cole says through gritted teeth and hits Steven again. Steven falls to the ground and Cole kicks him, and then drops to his knees, hitting Steven again. Blood splatters the grass. “You worthless piece of shit!” Cole raises his fist to hit him again, but I grab his arm.

“Stop, Cole.” I tug him back and point to the flashing blue lights that are racing down the street. Cole steps back, shaking out his hand. His phone is on the ground, and the 911 dispatcher’s voice can barely be heard. With trembling fingers, I pick up the phone and tell her what happened.

* * *

“Well, Ms. Ventimiglia, I think it’s safe to say we have enough to put him away for a long time.”

“Thank God. And thank you,” I tell the police officer. I’m not sure what was more satisfying: seeing Cole beat the shit out of Steven or seeing Steven get handcuffed and shoved into the back of a police car. I’ve been at the police station along with Cole, giving statements and taking care of paperwork.

“We found what we consider a Hit List in his wallet. Conspiracy to murder, stalking, attempted kidnapping, and two counts of assault are not things that can be easily dismissed in court. Pair that with the fact his shirt had your blood all over it and you have a solid case.”

“That’s a relief,” Cole says and puts his hand on my thigh. “Can we go?”

“Yes,” the officer says. “You’re good.”

Cole stands and offers a hand to help me to my feet. I take it, and walk behind him to his car.

“Are you okay?” he asks as we pull out of the station’s parking lot.

“I’ll be fine.”

Neither of us talk much on the drive back to his house. Cole opens the door and shuts off the alarm. I take off my boots and stand in the foyer, looking at the house that’s supposed to be mine.

“Want to take a shower and lay down?” Cole asks, sounding hopeful. Things went from bad to worse in a matter of minutes, and it’s easy to feel like the reason I left in the first place is no big deal compared to the shit Steven pulled.

“Yeah, but I want to shower alone.”

“Okay. Do you want me to make popcorn or anything?”

“Cole…” I start, and my heart hurts all over again. “Saving me from Steven didn’t make everything between us okay. Because it’s not. You lied to me. You made me look like an idiot. I trusted you.” My voice breaks and I turn away, not wanting Cole to see me cry.

“Ana,” he starts, sounding just as emotional. “I’m so sorry. I was wrong to lie. I messed up. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry too.”

He slowly shakes his head. “Why are you sorry?”

“I’m sorry this isn’t going to work.”

“No. Don’t say that, Ana.”

Tears roll down my cheeks. “Being able to say I trusted you—completely trusted you—was a huge thing for me. After what I went through before, I needed it, Cole.”

“You can still trust me.”

“But you lied! For a week, you lied about Steven. We went to bed together, ate together, lived together and you pretended like everything was fine when it wasn’t.” I let out a shaky breath and wipe my eyes. “I think I should go.”

“Where?”

“Home. To Kentucky.” I rub my forehead, feeling a killer headache coming on. “I’ll find a flight in the morning.”

The blood drains from Cole’s face and he backs up into the wall. “Ana, please. Don’t go.”

I look at Cole, heart breaking. “I’m sorry. I have to.”