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He spat on the ground in front of Wyatt, who didn’t speak or react. He remained still, although Beth could tell he was observing their surroundings. She knew him, and she knew he was probably thinking of half a dozen different ways to disarm Miles and take him down. So she slowed her breathing, tried to tamp down the panic that threatened to overwhelm her.
“You don’t have to do this, Miles. We can just talk about it.”
“No more talking, you whore!” He shook her, his hand still gripping her tight. Wyatt stepped forward, causing Miles to lift the gun he was holding and place it against Beth’s temple. “Take one more fucking step. I dare you.”
Wyatt froze in place, his gaze directly on Beth. When he mouthed the words, “I love you”, she managed a small smile.
“Aww, how sweet. Look at you two, all in love and shit.” Miles tapped the gun against her head. “You don’t know the first fucking thing about her, man. She’ll fuck you over in a heartbeat the moment someone else comes along.”
“You think?” Wyatt’s tone was one of sheer disbelief, and she knew he was trying to start a conversation with her ex in order to buy more time and possibly disarm him. So Beth said nothing, just let the men talk.
“I know,” Miles huffed. “I gave her everything she needed. A beautiful home, enough money to buy everything she wanted. I introduced her to very important people.”
In spite of the situation, she wanted to roll her eyes. Miles was a typical spoiled rich boy, who believed wealth and material items were what was important. He hadn’t known the true Beth at all. She’d never wanted any of that. She’d simply wanted a partner in life. A man she could share it with, could lean on when life was tough. A man she could love, support, respect, and cherish the same way he did her.
A man like Wyatt Kincaid.
“I’m sure she appreciated that, Miles.”
“Bullshit! What the fuck would you know? She ran away from me the first chance she got, the stupid slut. Didn’t take her long to spread her legs for the first man to pay her any attention.”
“What, exactly, are you planning to do here, Newman? What’s your endgame?”
Miles stared blankly at Wyatt, as though he had no idea. “I’m taking Lizzie home with me.”
Panic once again clutched at her heart, and Beth tried to move away. “No!”
“She’s not going anywhere with you. Don’t be stupid, Newman. Let her go.”
Miles sneered. “You going to make me?”
Wyatt took a small step closer. “We don’t have to do this. You can let Beth go and walk away. She’s staying here with me, where she belongs.”
Miles cocked the gun and pushed it so hard into her temple she couldn’t stop the whimper that escaped her lips. “Think you’re fast enough to beat the bullet I’m about to put into her brain?”
Wyatt’s mouth thinned, his body taut, and then he spoke. “Freya!”
The dog seemed to understand the command, because she took a flying leap into the air and latched on to the arm holding the gun. Miles yelled out, alerting passersby to them, and stumbled back toward the wall behind him, but his grip on Beth tightened. “Get your fucking dog off me or I’ll shoot it, then I’ll shoot her!”
“Freya, release!”
The dog released her hold on the man, but then suddenly two people appeared at the mouth of the alley. Beth recognized them straightaway as Asher and Kennedy, whom they’d seen earlier on in the night at the park. “Is everything okay here?” Asher took in the scene and she saw his eyes narrow.
Beth felt the cold metal of the gun muzzle dig into her side almost painfully, so she pasted on a fake smile and nodded. “Everything’s fine, guys.” Her voice was unnaturally high, and she could tell by the looks on their faces they weren’t buying it. “Are you heading for the diner? Save us a seat, we’ll meet you there shortly.”
The two new arrivals exchanged looks. “You sure we can’t help?”
Wyatt stepped closer to Beth and Miles, and gave Asher a nod. “We’ll be right there. Order some pie for us.”
They hesitated a few moments, their expressions making it obvious they understood the gravitas of the scene before them, then finally nodded. “Will do. See you soon.” Asher took Kennedy’s hand and pulled her away in the direction of the diner. Beth’s heart sank a little as they disappeared from view, but she understood it had been necessary. Her ex was unhinged, and the fewer people involved, the fewer people who could potentially get hurt.
Once they were out of sight, a loud groan and the sudden release of her arm had Beth spinning, only to find Wyatt kicking the gun away and pinning Miles to the wall, his strong arm underneath the other man’s neck. “Here’s how this is going to work, Newman,” he began through gritted teeth. “You’re going to get your ass back in your car and leave Silverbell Shore, and never come back. You’re not going to contact Beth ever again. I have friends in high places who’ll be watching you, and they’ll tell me if you so much as step foot inside North Carolina.”
“You don’t scare me, asshole.” Even though Miles sounded dismissive, Beth could see the fear starting to seep in.
“I should. Because if you so much as breathe in Beth’s direction, I’ll make sure you disappear and are never seen again. Got it?”
Miles pushed at the arm restricting his breathing. “Let me go, asshole. Now.”
