Page 100 of Deck the Hauls

My vision seemed to blur, a feeling of unbearable pressure on my chest.

“That’s it. You either drive away now, or I’m calling the police.” Dana picked up her phone. “Take your pick.”

“This is bullshit. You can’t silence me. I will destroy you and Catherine. I’ll get my team to dig through your past, find out all your dirty little secrets, and publish them for the whole world to see. How will you like that? Get a taste of your own medicine⁠—”

Dana started to press buttons on her phone, all the while staring Phillip down.

“Fine. I’ll go. But you will regret this.”

Phillip rolled up his window, and his car raced away.

Dana turned to me. “Are you okay?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

DANA

I couldn’t believe Phillip had the gall to show up in person and try to intimidate Emily into staying quiet. He gave the impression of someone who thought they were invincible, that their wealth and power could protect them from the ramifications that ordinary people faced for their behavior.

I clenched my jaw. He’d better not try to intimidate Emily again or I’d… What would I do? Threaten him with my axe? That wasn’t really my vibe. But perhaps when pushed… I could see myself rampaging through his fancy mansion, wielding my axe and chopping into some priceless heirlooms. It would certainly be cathartic. I shook myself out of my revenge fantasy to focus on Emily.

Her brow was pinched, her face paler than usual.

“Should we head home?” I asked.

I wanted to hug her, to tell her everything would be okay. But I didn’t want to overstep and make her feel uncomfortable.

Emily hugged herself. “Yes, please.”

“Why don’t I call us a taxi, so at least you don’t have to deal with the subway?”

As I pulled out my phone, Emily burst into tears.

I stood there, helplessly.

My eyes landed on the row of tiny wooden Christmas chalets down the street.

“Let’s get one of those tiny log cabins and decompress,” I suggested gently.

Emily nodded through her tears.

I handed my credit card to a woman dressed like a Swiss milkmaid and then we were bundled into the tiny log cabin. Inside, a large table, with two benches on either side, consumed most of the room. Ornaments and fake Christmas greenery hung from the ceiling. Through the glass window at the end of the cabin, the rink was teeming with skaters.

“You have to admit, my place is definitely more spacious,” I said, closing the door firmly behind us.

Emily gave a small laugh, and then wrapped her arms around my waist. I pulled her tight to me.

“That was intense,” I murmured into her hair. “Are you okay?”

“No,” Emily said, a shuddering sob traveling through her body.

There was a loud rap on the door and we jumped back.

“Come in,” I called.

The door opened and a man wearing what looked like a Swiss yodeler outfit peered in. “Can I take your order? There’s a $25 food-and-beverage minimum per person.”

Of course there was. But it was worth the money to have Emily somewhere safe and private.