CHAPTER 29
Natalie made her way to her father’s bar and nosed around until she found what she was looking for. Everclear, one of the highest proof liquors ever made. She knew it was there, had seen it, even tried it once. After knocking back a shot, which she’d even watered down, it felt as if she’d been stabbed in the throat. The liquor was actually flammable and even had a label on it warning against drinking it straight. Horrible stuff but it was just what she needed. She took four bottles from the well-stocked bar and stuffed them in her leather satchel.
Then she went in search of more supplies and her backup phone. The SIM card from the smashed cell was salvageable, and she slid it into the older model. She’d charge the battery in the car.
Natalie parked at the bottom of Aiden’s driveway, pulling off to the side as close to the pines as she could get without slipping into the ditch. She was sure her parents hadn’t heard her leave. Let them worry, if they even realized she was gone. They didn’t care about her anyway. Why should she care about them? Proper parents, good parents, took care of their kids. They didn’t cheat. They didn’t drink themselves into oblivion or take pills. They didn’t throw the word “divorce” around, scaring the shit out of their kid.
Fueled by self-righteousness and self-pity, Natalie exited the SUV, threw her satchel over her shoulder, and yanked on a knitted hat, ready for her last-ditch effort to make everything safe in her world again. She had two plans, though the sinking feeling that Plan A more than likely wouldn’t pan out saddened her. The thought of implementing Plan B calmed her despite what it entailed.
Plunging her hands deep into the pockets of her down-filled jacket, she caressed the frigid metal of the Beretta’s grip. Gently, she placed a finger on the trigger. She wouldn’t apply pressure, not yet, but her heartbeat slowed just having it in her hand. Power was what the gun gave her, the power to persuade. The power to take life. She knew how people saw her—they couldn’t imagine she was capable of killing anyone. After all, wasn’t she just a troubled teenager?
The night was wintry despite the fact it was technically still autumn, and it was dark, the only light coming from the stars and crescent moon. It’d be awesome to take the time to appreciate the night sky. If only she didn’t have so many worries and so many loose ends that needed tying. The pill she’d downed earlier was at the height of its effect, calming her and bolstering her determination.
Trudging up the hill toward the cabin, her boot-clad feet crunched in what was left of the snow. Her thighs ached and burned as she made her way up the incline until finally, she was at the front door of the cabin. Breathing heavily, she crept onto the porch and peered through a sidelight. No lights on, but Lily’s and Aiden’s vehicles were in the driveway. They were home. Probably in bed. She shook her head in disgust. The Valier sisters were quick to hop into a man’s bed.
Damn, how much easier it would have been if Lily had gone to her own home, alone. But she’d been to blame for that. She’d forced Lily out of her house and into Aiden’s cabin by breaking in and trashing the place. Stupid move, yes, but what was done was done. It would have been easier to do what she came to do without a man around, especially one the size of Aiden O’Rourke, but she reminded herself that a gun was a great equalizer and she wasn’t afraid to use it if she had to.
She tried the door handle. It clicked open.
Lily awoke with a start and sat up, her heartbeat like a sprinter’s. It took a moment to gather her bearings, but once she realized she was with Aiden, in Aiden’s cabin, in Aiden’s bed, she calmed.
Moments of terror charging at her like a stalker in the night had been plentiful at home in her own bed, the fear clawing its way to the surface of her mind so forcefully at times, it stole her breath. Things were different now.
Lily looked over at a gently snoring Aiden. It was not an annoying snore, but a cute and comforting sound that made her feel safe.
She heard Rex walking around downstairs. They’d made a bed for him in front of the fireplace so he’d be comfortable and warm for the night. It wasn’t just the click of his nails that carried up to the open loft but a low growl too.
Was Rex really growling? He was usually so quiet, never even barked when someone came to the door. Lily cocked her head, listening hard.
It came again, this time louder, followed by a bark.
She jumped out of bed, quickly dressed and contemplated waking Aiden but thought better of it. Maybe being in a strange house made Rex uneasy. After all, he’d never slept anywhere but at home. She peered over at Aiden, who’d stirred but hadn’t woken. Must be nice to sleep so soundly, the sign of an unburdened mind.
Lily padded down the stairs, the only light coming from the embers still burning in the fireplace. Once at the bottom, she ran a hand along the wall, feeling for a light switch, but wasn’t familiar enough with the layout of the cabin to find one.
“Don’t move,” came a furious whisper.
An icy-fingered tendril of dread traced its way down her spine, and a small sound came and died in her throat. Someone was crouched by the front door.
“Not much of a watchdog you’ve got, Lily.” A woman. It was a woman! Her fear fell a notch until the figure stood, and Lily caught sight of the glint of metal in her hand.
Her breath caught in her throat and she stepped backward. “Who are you? What did you do to Rex?”
A laugh. “Your stupid dog’s outside. Don’t you people lock your doors? All I had to do was open it, and your mangy mutt came out to greet me.”
Concern for Rex momentarily overrode her fear, and Lily peered past the woman through the sidelight in an effort to spot her dog. Then came the familiar scratching of a paw against wood, Rex’s way of asking to be let back in. He’d be cold, but at least he was alive. Relief washed through her.
From what Lily could make out, the woman was tall, and despite the puff of her unzipped winter jacket, she looked scrawny.
“Who are you?”
“Keep your voice down. I know that PI is upstairs. You don’t want me to have to shoot him, do you?”
Lily’s heart leaped into her throat. This time when she spoke, it was a whisper. “Please, just tell me what you want.”
The woman stepped toward Lily and stuck the gun in her ribs. “Move,” she growled, pushing her toward the living room. A knitted hat was pulled down low on the woman’s forehead, making it difficult for Lily to get a good look at her face. Did she know her? There was something familiar in that voice.
“Sit,” the woman commanded once they were by the couches.
When she sat, the stranger stood in front of her. The burning logs in the fireplace threw more than enough light for Lily to finally see the woman’s face. She was just a girl, not a woman. “Natalie?”
“Shut up.”
The Natalie Lyons that Lily knew was needy and lonely, certainly nothing like this crazy-eyed girl in front of her now.
“Sara destroyed my life,” Natalie began. “Your slut of a sister gets herself pregnant and ruins my parents’ marriage, then the stupid bitch gets shot and everyone thinks my dad did it.”
A flush of anger burned in Lily’s chest and crawled its way up her neck to her cheeks. “Don’t you think your dad had a little something to do with my sister getting pregnant? And maybe even with her murder?”
Pain speared Lily as the butt of the gun crashed into her jaw, sending her sprawling across the couch. A scream started to form in her throat, but for Aiden’s sake, she let it die there.
“Shut up, bitch. Your sister was nothing but the town slut. My mother’s going to prison because of her.”
Lily worked her jaw, not sure if it was broken. A knife-like jab tore into her temples when she opened her mouth. Slowly, she pushed her way back to sitting. “What did you say?” Each word sent another stab of pain through her head.
“My mother is being blamed for your sister’s murder. She’s probably been arrested already.”
Lily’s suspicions had leaned toward Zander, but as she and Aiden had discussed earlier, Gabrielle had a damn good reason to want Sara dead too. “Then justice is served.”
Natalie sat on the coffee table in front of her, their knees so close they were touching. “No, it hasn’t been and do you know why?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Because my mother didn’t kill your sister. I did.” She spoke slowly and with purpose, words meant to shock.
Lily was struck again—the blow this time to her heart.
“But you’re going to take the blame. You’re going to confess.” Natalie jabbed a finger at Lily’s chest.
Fury pushed Lily to her feet, hands fisted by her sides. She swung at the girl and missed. Natalie, younger and faster, moved quickly out of the way, turning and twisting to her left. Now she had the gun jabbed into the small of Lily’s back.
“You’re coming with me, and we’re going to see Deputy Deluca. You’ll confess or I’ll kill you and the man you just slept with.”
Lily straightened and planted her feet defiantly, rooting to the spot. “I’m not going anywhere. You need me alive. How can I confess if I’m dead?”
She heard the girl’s labored breaths and sighs of exasperation. With the barrel of the gun pushed uncomfortably into the hollow of Lily’s back, Natalie grabbed her phone and punched in a number. “I’m at Aiden’s cabin. Get over here now.”
“Who’d you call?” Lily asked, trying to inch away.
“Stop. Don’t take another step.”
Lily kept moving. Slowly, slowly, she moved away from Natalie. Once she was a safe distance away, she turned to face the girl. The gun was no longer aimed at her but at Aiden, who stood stock-still halfway down the stairs.
“Time for Plan B,” Natalie whispered.