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“To me? I’m not the one with a history of drug overdoses. I’m the one who’s saved you all those times. What reason would they have to thinkit was me?”
“Because Zeke knows,” I blurted out, my chest heaving as Stan stopped in front of me.
“What?” His eyes sharpened.
“He knows what you’ve done to me,” I lied through my teeth, but I didn’t know what else to do. “I told him the truth. That you were the reason for all my overdoses. That you drugged my yogurt and my water and my smoothies… all so that you could play the hero.”
“No.” He started to shake his head.
“Zeke knows the truth—he knows you’re responsible for all of this, and he’s going to make sure—”
“No!” Stan roared and lunged for me, his hand wrapping around my throat with a murderous grip.
My body’s natural reaction was to open my mouth. To try and gasp in air,but when I did that, instead of air, Stan forced the bottle to my mouth.
I struggled, pushing against him as water filled my mouth. But the more I struggled, the tighter his hand got, and the moment it loosened, it was only liquid that leaked down my throat.I tried to swat the bottle away, but Stan barricaded his arms on either side.
My eyes squeezed shut. I had to do something.I had no idea if Jake listened to me—if he was running to the pool to call for help. Even if he did, it would take too long for anyone to get here in time. I had to fight for myself.
I let my arms fall, knowing Stan would take the moment to loosen his grip and force me to swallow.
“It doesn’t matter if he knows the truth, Mackenzie. He’ll get here too late to save you—and too late to stop me from taking Jake somewhere safe. There’s nothing you can do—nothing you ever could’ve done. You’ve always been too weak.”
I let out a small cry. I was never going to let that happen.
I opened my eyes and let the water gurgle down my throat, watching Stan’s triumphant smile appear. And then I brought my knee up hard between his legs, nailing him right in the groin.
Stan’s mistake was underestimating me.
He thought he’d brought back the same woman whose life he’d almost taken a year ago. But I wasn’t that woman. I was stronger. Determined. And I was going to fight like hell.
The bottle crashed to the ground, sending the drugged water flying everywhere. Stan’s hold on my neck released, too, as he doubled over in pain.
I didn’t hesitate, I pushed past him and headed for the front door, Stan’s enraged roar nipping at my heels.
“Jake!” I called as soon as I was outside, scanning the front yard for my son.
When he wasn’t anywhere to be seen, I took off down the road. I had to get to the pool—to Jake. I had to get us to safety.
“Mackenzie!”
I looked over my shoulder.
Stan sprinted from the front of the house, a murderous glare on his face. Gone was the mask—the veneer of heroic perfection. All that was left was the deranged manwho wanted to make me pay for ruining everything about his perfect life.
My legs pumped harder, my chest heaving with each breath. And that was when I felt it—the weight starting to settle in my limbs.
I had no idea how much fentanyl he’d dumped into the water, but it was enough that the few gulps I’d taken to distract him were having an effect.
No.
I focused ahead of me, letting Stan’s yell fade. I focused on getting to Jake—to safety. I focused on one foot in front of the other. Slamming each step down harder to try and jostle more adrenaline free.
My periphery began to blur.
Almost there.
There was one street to cross before I reached the grounds of the community center. One more street.
