She was the catalyst, the spark that had started the man’s nightmare and he was going to end it with her.
Over my dead body.
CHAPTER 27
Grace
“You don’t remember me, Grace?” He took a step closer and I backed away, trying to think about how to get the hell out of here.
“You brought the dog here.” Oh, I remembered him, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of disrupting my life, then or now.
“I knew you couldn’t resist and that allowed me to spend some time with you. Just like old times.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” It had to be well after seven at this point. I knew Viper. He wouldn’t leave me alone for long.
When the man took off his hat, I resisted reacting even though I was utterly petrified. Mike Jenson. My father had kept a file on the single boy who’d almost ruined my life. He’d attacked other women, thinking he deserved to take whatever he wanted.
He’d worn a skull cap before that made him appear as if he was losing his hair. There was no mistaking the man who was standing in front of me. How had my skin not crawled the first time he’d stepped foot near me? No wonder Viper hadn’t appreciated the man’s presence. If only I’d listened to him.
“Mike. Long time, no see.” I had to keep him talking to find a way to escape or until someone came to find me.
“You do remember. I didn’t think you could forget about me.” Even in the dim light, I could see the evil glint in his eyes.
“What do you want?”
He was trying to corner me, pushing me deeper into the barn. When he stopped moving, cocking his head and a smile crossing his face, I sensed the level of danger I was in. “Isn’t that obvious. Or did that bastard of a father not tell you?” His calm demeanor was already cracking.
So was mine.
“You killed my parents. You killed those other people and set the fire on the mountain. Let me guess. You even shot that poor animal just so you could get close to me.”
His laugh was horrifying, as promising as it was ominous. “Why, yes, I did. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do to be with the woman he loves.”
Oh, my fucking God.
“Why? Why would you do that?”
“Because you ruined my life. You and that bastard of a father of yours. That’s okay. I’m back and taking what I want.”
God, I couldn’t stand his horrible laugh. I was losing patience as the terror erased all rational thoughts.
“Yes, my father did everything he could to protect me, including taking out a restraining order on you. On you!” I pointed at him and could tell I was infuriating him. A shovel. I remembered the mucking shovel was near Thor’s stall. “Because you’re a rapist.”
“I’m no such thing,” he said, acting as if I’d offended him. “However, your fucking father didn’t learn to keep his place. He had to be taught a lesson. Then you had to come back. You almost spoiled everything. Asking questions about the lighter.”
Mike was losing it. That much I could clearly tell. The horses were spooked, already moving in their stalls. They could smell evil.
While he was obviously in the throes of whatever mania his mind suffered from, I moved closer to the shovel.
“I had no idea you owned it.”
“You had to talk. You had to come back. The one woman I always wanted.” When he took a step closer, his eyes swept me with enough heat that even in the waning light, I knew what was on his mind. “Then you had to take up with that fucking convict. Imagine that.”
Viper. “He’s a hero. You’re not. And he’ll be here any second.”
“No, he won’t.” The statement was made with such confidence, I was thrown.
“What do you mean?”
