by Katie Reus
But not to her. Never. The evil in his dark blue eyes was like looking into an abyss of rage and madness that wanted to see the world burn, wanted to hurt more women.
Rain slapped her face as she raced deeper into the woods. Adrenaline was her only fuel right now, keeping her going when it would be easier to collapse and give in to her heartbreak. She was on the cusp of breaking down, could feel it bone deep.
She thought she heard him behind her, turned to look. A dark, hooded figure like something out of her worst nightmare was lumbering toward her. He batted a branch out of the way, the movement angry.
She dodged to the left instead of continuing straight. With no idea where she was, she was running blind but at least the rain was hiding her tracks and covering most of her sound. It picked up again, lightning flashing in the distance.
Her thigh muscles strained as she pushed herself harder. Something sharp pierced her foot, but it barely registered. Almost as if she was sleepwalking, she continued on, slapping at foliage until she stumbled into a clearing.
Oh God, no. She needed the cover of woods. It was the only thing keeping her alive…
A flash of lights skated over the clearing, highlighting what she now realized were benches and tables.
Blinking, she saw that she was in a park of sorts and those lights were from a vehicle. A parking lot.
Knife clutched tightly in her hand, she sprinted straight toward where the headlights had been. As she moved, a blur of motion appeared from her right. Her reaction time was off as the hulking figure tackled her to the ground.
Screaming, she slashed out with her knife, slicing at anything she could hit.
He grunted and reared back. “Bitch!”
A kaleidoscope of colors exploded behind her eyes as he backhanded her across the face. She rolled to the side, grasping blindly for her knife, but clawed up nothing but grass and mud.
He pinned her down, his big body trembling with rage. “You’re going to pay for this,” he snarled.
“Hands in the air, now!” a male voice boomed through the air.
The man above her froze.
“Now, or I put a bullet in your head!” It was the same commanding voice.
Do it! she inwardly screamed. Shoot him!
When the man moved off her, she immediately scrambled, diving for her knife before turning to face the newcomer.
A man in a dark green uniform with a matching parka and heavy-duty rain boots had his weapon pinned on the monster who’d killed her sister. The knowledge that he was some sort of law enforcement pierced through the haze filling her mind as she watched him slam the psychopath to the ground and handcuff him.
When her savior turned to look at her there was a chilling mixture of horror and relief in his gaze. She was vaguely aware of him talking to her, but she couldn’t make out any of his words. She just saw his mouth moving, and his tone was soothing as he took her knife away. She didn’t fight him. He wasn’t the enemy. Her numbed brain knew that much.
And as he slipped his parka around her, she forced herself to talk through chattering teeth. “She’s dead. My sister’s dead. He killed her.”
And she would never be whole again.
Chapter 1
Eight years later
“Bye, Adeline,” Serenity called over her shoulder as she left Tailwaggers Grooming.
The bell jingled overhead as she stepped out into the chilly afternoon air. In just three weeks the annual Verona Bay art festival would be here and the town was already getting prepared for it. Banners lined every light pole, brightly announcing the big event that brought a lot of tourism to the small, coastal Florida town.
Shivering in the coolness, she hurried down the sidewalk, past a coffee shop, an antique store, two clothing shops, and a tapas bar that wouldn’t be open for a couple hours yet. She had two stops to make before she needed to pick up her daughter from school.
“Serenity.”
Everything inside her went still at the sound of that deliciously deep voice. One she’d know anywhere.
Lucas Jordan.
Despite the chilly afternoon, heat bloomed inside her because of one single word from him. She was a grown woman with a young daughter, but around Lucas she felt tongue-tied and vividly aware of him in ways she’d been trying to ignore for months. Trying and failing. She didn’t believe in fairy tales and happy endings anymore—life had taught her to be too smart for that—but the man made her question everything.
Shutting the hatch of her SUV, she turned to find him standing on the curb looking just as sexy as always. He just exuded it without even trying. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets as she stepped up onto the sidewalk. Tall, dark and handsome didn’t even begin to cover it with him. His dark brown hair was cut military short and only served to show off his too-handsome face. “Took a late lunch and saw you headed out. You picking up Harper from school?”
“Yeah, I’ve got a couple errands to run first though.”
He gave her one of those sexy half-smiles she looked forward to far too much. With broad, muscular shoulders, Lucas was about six feet two and had twin dimples. So whenever he smiled she got a perfect view of them—and her insides melted. “How is she?”
“Good. It’s music week so it’s been very loud at our house. She got to bring home a mini-drum set yesterday, so that’s been fun.”
Lucas let out a short laugh, the action relaxing his entire body and making her want to dissolve into a puddle at his feet. It was seriously wrong how much he affected her when she’d been half dead inside for nearly a decade. “How did she like the stuffed butterfly?”
Last week he’d bought Harper a gift, which had surprised her. They’d been friends for six months—ever since he’d brought his dog Daisy in for grooming. But they usually just met up for coffee and occasionally lunch. With her schedule it was hard to do much else. And the truth was, she wasn’t willing to make time for anything else. After her husband had died overseas in an ambush only two weeks before his deployment ended, she’d had to step up and take care of everything in her and her daughter’s life—and discovered that she was more than capable of standing on her own two feet. She couldn’t go back to that woman she’d been before, and a relationship with anyone simply wasn’t going to happen. Not even with someone as wonderful as Lucas.
“She loved it, thanks. She showed it to all her friends—proudly. And she’s even more excited for spring to come now so we can make a butterfly garden.” Something told Serenity it was more the giver than the actual gift that meant something to Harper. Serenity wasn’t sure how she felt about that, but there wasn’t much she could do at this point.
“I’m glad.” Clearing his throat, Lucas rubbed a hand against the back of his neck, looking almost nervous. His bright emerald green eyes flashed with something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. “Listen—”
“Come on, slacker!”
Serenity turned to see Easton, Lucas’s older brother by barely one year, stepping out of Momma’s Kitchen and zipping his jacket up. At thirty-five, Easton looked younger than both his brothers, probably because of his easygoing attitude and slightly longer, shaggy hair. He smiled and gave Serenity a half-wave. He’d been a Marine years ago, just like Lucas. Now he was a firefighter in Verona Bay.
“Easton had the day off so we grabbed lunch, but it’s the end of a project so I better get out of here.” Lucas owned Jordan Construction with one of his cousins. The company had been passed on to them by their fathers and it was one of the most successful in the region. They did good, quality work and didn’t try to screw people on prices. Plus they were diversified, doing both commercial and residential projects.
“Are you still coming by the shop tomorrow with Daisy?” God, did she have to sound so hopeful? She inwardly winced, wanting to snatch the question back. But six months of wanting him had apparently removed her filter. Even though she’d always known who the Jordan family was, Lucas was fo
ur years older than her and they’d never run in the same circles when she was younger.
She’d met him almost the first week she’d moved back to Verona Bay, and for her at least, the attraction had been instantaneous—and completely unexpected. Her husband had been gone for two years and even though things hadn’t been great between them before he died, she still hadn’t expected to want someone else to such distraction. She’d thought that part of her had died.
Lucas gave her one of those wicked smiles that had butterflies taking flight inside her. “Yeah, she needs a haircut pretty bad.”
Daisy was a shepherd mix, and beyond adorable. Lucas had gotten her from an animal rescue shelter over a year ago, and seeing how wonderful she was made Serenity want to get another dog.
“See you then.” And she’d definitely be looking forward to it. More than she should. They were just friends, something she seemed to be reminding herself of more and more. But even if she had been looking for a relationship, she and Harper were a package deal. She couldn’t see Lucas wanting to take on a ready-made family anyway.
He nodded and gave her an intense, unreadable look before he turned and headed toward his waiting brother. She shouldn’t watch him walk away. She ordered herself not to. But she was weak when it came to Lucas. So, so weak.
He wore worn jeans and a jacket over his work shirt, but nothing could hide the raw power of the man. He and his cousin took an active role in the day-to-day business and he definitely wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. His body had been honed to perfection from hard labor. She’d had way too many fantasies about what he’d look like without his clothes on. And on that note, she needed to get out of here or she’d be late.
It didn’t take long to stop by the local bakery and pick up her order. By the time she was on the road again, the scents of cinnamon, peanut butter and chocolate teased her as she made the short drive to the sheriff’s station. She stopped by occasionally to drop off baked goods to the local law enforcement. It was partially a thank-you for the men and women who put their lives on the line every day.
If it hadn’t been for a game warden pulling in overtime eight years ago, she’d be dead. But she also did it because she was friends with some of the staff, including Sheriff Lincoln Jordan—Lucas’s brother. They’d gone to college together and he’d known Savannah, had been there for her after…everything. He was one of the few people she’d stayed in contact with after she’d moved away. Linc was one of those solid people you could just depend on. And that was another reason she couldn’t get involved with Lucas: too many messy complications.
She’d finally gotten to a place where she felt almost normal. Since she’d moved back to Verona Bay, people no longer gave her pitying looks. She was now just known as Serenity Washington, single mom and pet grooming shop owner—not Serenity Washington, widow and sole survivor of a serial killer.
She might have adapted and survived, but there would always be a part of her missing. Losing her twin that terrible night had been like losing part of herself in some ways. Some days, when she was feeling extra sorry for herself, the pain thrived inside her, clawing at the memories she’d buried deep.
Drip, drip, drip.
She gritted her teeth, locking down that particular thought, and turned up the radio. But she frowned when the same black sedan stayed behind her for the ten-minute drive. Verona Bay wasn’t so big that she wouldn’t notice someone following her, but she tried not to let her paranoia get the better of her. Not when she knew it could become all-consuming. The driver was likely just headed in the same direction she was, that was all.
The man who’d killed her sister was in jail. Not everyone was a killer out to get her.
Chapter 2
Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she followed Serenity in her car.
Everyone thought Serenity was so perfect. But she should have died just like her twin eight years ago. Everything would be better if she was gone.
She’d been dealing with her anger—dealing with that stupid bitch living back in her town again—for too long now. She’d thought she could handle having to see Serenity’s face, but Serenity had pushed her too far.
She wants to take what’s yours, the voice always lurking in her mind whispered.
If Serenity was out of the way, her life would be better. Ever since the golden girl had moved back to town she’d ruined everything.
That dark voice inside her whispered to just end it today. Just kill Serenity. She’d never see it coming.
Then she could have everything she wanted. The woman just had to get in her way. Stupid cow still didn’t realize the Shepherd hadn’t worked solo all those years ago. No one knew. Not even the Feds. It was because of her that Serenity, Savannah and all the others had been taken. No one knew the part she’d played in everything.
All those girls had gotten what they’d deserved. They’d all had perfect lives, come from perfect families who were proud of them. They’d had the right clothes, right boyfriends, everything. While she’d been on the fringe. Always on the outside. A dirty, shameful little secret.
Not anymore. She was finally accepted, had made a life for herself as a normal, respectable member of society.
At least on the outside.
So what if she still had contact with the Shepherd? There was no way she could cut him out of her life. It would be like cutting out a part of her soul.
In him she saw the same darkness that lived inside her, had from the moment they’d finally met. That day was etched in her memory forever. But he’d be livid if she went after Serenity now. Before, he’d wanted to cleanse Serenity—and all the others—to do God’s work. Only now…Serenity was a mother. The Shepherd never killed mothers. The very idea repulsed him.
Who cares what he thinks? that seductive voice whispered again. This is your life. Take what you want. Make that bitch suffer.
God, why had Serenity moved back to Verona Bay? She should have just stayed away. And since she’d returned she’d made friends with everyone—including her.
Poor little Serenity, who’d been through so much. Single mom Serenity, who’d had so much tragedy, but was so strong and giving. Ugh. “Give me a break,” she muttered.
The Shepherd was weak. He couldn’t have done anything without you and you know it. Kill her. It’ll be so easy.
She swallowed hard as she listened to her voice, to her truest desires. She rolled her shoulders as she followed after Serenity, trying to ease the growing tension. She’d been fine for years, but now the voice in her head was stronger, more insistent. Always whispering what she needed to do. It was all Serenity’s fault.
Disgust slithered through her as she saw Serenity turning off into the parking lot of the sheriff’s department.
Little do-gooder dropping off baked goods like Mary freaking Poppins. Everything about her was fake. It was so obvious. But the people in Verona Bay couldn’t seem to see past her façade.
She continued past the sheriff’s department, keeping her speed steady. She hadn’t planned to follow Serenity, it had just happened. She barely remembered getting in her car, but when she’d seen Serenity this afternoon talking to Lucas something inside her had taken over.
At the next turnoff, she steered into a gas station parking lot and pulled her purse into her lap. Her fingers trembled as she thought about what she was going to do. She knew this place didn’t have a working security camera. The cheap owner had just drilled two fake cameras into place. Even so, she still parked around the back. After carefully scanning to make sure she was alone, she reached into her purse with trembling hands.
She’d been carrying this trophy around for months. Deep down she’d known this day would come, that she’d make Serenity pay for surviving. For taking the Shepherd from her. If she’d just gone away like all the others, this wouldn’t be necessary now. Serenity deserved this, really.
She’s just jealous of you. The softly spoken words in her mind wrapped around her, embracing her
. Giving her strength. She pretends to like you, to be nice to you, but she thinks you’re garbage. The whispering in her mind continued.
She slammed her fist against the steering wheel. The trophy wouldn’t be enough—she needed to leave a note as well. Serenity needed to suffer, to know what was coming and fear it. Because she was the one who was trash.
And her time was almost up. It didn’t matter that the Shepherd would be angry. He was in jail. There was nothing he could do about it when she killed that bitch. But simply killing her wouldn’t be enough. She had to take everything from her first.
Tick-tock, tick-tock. The voice was louder now. A countdown. Serenity’s time was coming to an end.
Chapter 3
Serenity adjusted her scarf tighter around her neck as she made her way across the parking lot. Her breath curled in front of her like soft, white smoke. She loved the winter and everything about the season, but she’d be ready for spring soon. The longer days, blooming of flowers, and metaphorical rebirth of everything soothed her soul.
Her boots crunched over the gravel as she weaved her way through the vehicles of the Verona Bay SD parking lot. The two-story building wasn’t large, but the town wasn’t either.
It had been good to see Lincoln, but now she needed to pick up her daughter. Even though her marriage hadn’t been the best, the one thing she and her deceased husband had cared about was making sure Harper had a normal, safe life. As safe as any parent could make it, because she knew more than most what kind of freaks were out there.
When she reached her SUV there was a plain white envelope tucked under one of the windshield wipers. Frowning, she glanced around the quiet parking lot. One of the deputies who’d been inside was trudging to his car, saw her and waved. Smiling, she waved back before tugging the envelope free.