“Yes. She had to go. She figured it all out and was about to tattle. I couldn’t let her ruin everything Travis and I built.”
“You mean everything you stole,” I correct.
But she doesn’t say another word. She simply reaches into her designer purse and pulls out a knife the size of a curling iron.
The crowd noise from the fireworks is deafening. The music. The cheering. The explosions overhead. No one can hear us. And my guess is that not a soul is looking this direction.
“And now, Bizzy,” Sloane says, almost apologetically, “I’m afraid you’ll have to go, too.”
The knife glints in the light of the dripping fireworks.
She looks at Mackenzie. “You can stick around, but you’ll have to keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for you. Think of your child, Macky. You need to live for your sweet baby boy.”
BOOM BOOM BOOM.
Rapid fire overhead.
I’m backing up, and Mackenzie’s frozen, and the pets are growling low and menacing.
Sloane lunges.
She grabs my arm, yanks me forward, the knife raising?—
“I’m sorry it has to be this way?—”
Fish launches herself at Sloane’s back, claws out, screaming.TAKE HER DOWN!
Biscuit Gravy latches onto Sloane’s shin, teeth sinking in deep.I’ve got her leg!
Sherlock goes for the ankle, biting hard enough that Sloane shrieks.This is for trying to off Ella’s mommy!
Sloane is screaming, trying to shake them off, the knife swinging wildly.
Mackenzie jumps in and shoves Sloane sideways, and suddenly all three of us are wrestling in the sand while the sky explodes overhead.
BOOM.
Sand flies everywhere. The champagne glass gets pitched into the sky. It’s nothing but grunts and shouts and chaos. The knife glints close to my face, my throat, and Mackenzie’s arm all in the span of a few spastic seconds.
BOOM BOOM.
Mackenzie trips Sloane and we all go down in a tangle of limbs and designer fabric and fur.
Rolling, fighting, andI end up on top somehow, my hand closing around Sloane’s wrist, twisting, and the knife comes free?—
“I’ve got it,” I pant.
And no sooner do I shout the words than I raise it into the air.
BOOM BOOM BOOM.
The grand finale starts up and the entire sky goes white.
I’m breathing hard, hair everywhere, covered in sand, and I’m pretty sure I just lost a shoe.
Sloane roars back to life just as footfalls head in this direction.
“EVERYONE FREEZE! SEAVIEW SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT!”
