CHAPTER 43
Farrah
My heart is pounding as a blonde woman comes into view. The look in her eyes is one I saw in my ex-husband’s almost every day. It’s mean and vengeful, as if they’re looking at the person who caused every single horrible thing that ever happened to them.
She looks rough. Her greasy hair has been slicked back into a ponytail, while her sweatpants and T-shirt look like they haven’t been washed in weeks. I’m betting she’s the one who was living in those cabins, and I know they don’t have running water.
It doesn’t take me long to figure out this is Finn’s mom. He shares more of her features than you’d think when he’s standing next to his dad.
“Well, if it isn’t the homewrecker. Having fun playing house withmyfamily?” Her words are like barbs straight to my heart. I wish I’d gotten the full story about her from Knox. I should’ve pushed a little harder, but who’d have thought she’d be the problem instead of Alex?
I don’t even know her name, let alone how things ended with Knox. It’s obvious that it didn’t end well, given howtriggered he was by his feelings for me originally, but we never got around to the details.
The expression on her face makes my blood run cold. A part of me wants to shrink into myself to limit the damage she can do to me.
Finn grips my shirt in his little fist, and as I reach back to comfort him, determination fills me like never before. I will not allow this woman to hurt my sweet boy. No matter what it takes, I will protect him with everything I have.
And that pocketknife in her hand tells me it might very well be with my life.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, trying to find a way to stall.
“I was supposed to be getting my family back, but instead, I found you. I can’t really blame Knox for straying. You’re a pretty little thing, I’ll give him that. But your time here is over. Once you’re out of the way, I’ll have everything I was supposed to have before that little shit back there ruined it.”
I blink, trying to keep up with her ramble. Is she blaming me or Finn for taking away her family? Or is she blaming both of us? Does she somehow believe that if she kills Finn and me, she’ll get Knox back?
He’d rather die than lose his son.
I slowly walk backward, keeping Finn behind me as I move around the coffee table. “How did you get in the house?”
She grins. “Cows are as stupid as men, and they were easy to lure through the broken fence. It took me longer to get up to the house than I expected, but I managed to slip inside before Knox got back. Then I just had to wait for the right moment.”
I try not to think about the fact that she was here while Knox and I had our moment in the shower or the fact that she could have taken Finn while we were distracted. Maybe it isn’tFinn she wants. “What do you want? Maybe I can get it for you.”
“No more fucking questions!” she screams, stomping down the rest of the stairs. I move backward even quicker, trying to get us closer to the front door. If I can distract her, Finn can run out the door and get to safety.
“Stop right there, bitch.”
I freeze. We’re only a few yards away now. I think it could be enough to keep him safe. “I won’t let you hurt Finn.”
That makes her pause, tilting her head as if she’s confused. “I’d never hurt my son.”
What? Didn’t she say he ruined everything? What the hell is her plan then?
She leans to the side to see Finn better. “Finn, come over to Mommy. We’re going to start all over.”
He only tucks himself further into my back.
I keep my hand on his arm, squeezing him to keep him still. “You’re scaring him. If you want him to come closer, you need to put the knife down.”
The woman looks at the knife as if she didn’t realize it was in her hand. A spark of hope ignites as she begins to soften. It’s extinguished a second later when she narrows her eyes and points the tip of her knife at me.
“You’ve poisoned him against me. He doesn’t even remember me because of you. I know Knox would never have let this happen if it weren’t for you.”
I back up another step. My heart is pounding with adrenaline. I have to find a way to get Finn out of here. She’s seconds away from attacking. I recognize the resolve settling in her eyes. I will take whatever blows she tries to rain down on me as long as I can make sure Finn will be safe.
“Finn,” she barks. “Come here to your mother. Right. Now.”
“You’re not my mom,” he says with conviction. My chestaches with how brave he’s being, but I’m terrified that he’ll only incite her further.
