flung. “You just like hitting me. Hurting me. You say you love me but it’s a lie!”
His expression morphed as I spoke. Anger. Suspicion. Unsurety. And finally whatever gazed back at me now.
“You make me do these things, Arabella.” Spittle showered my nose. “You lie, and you run, and you cheat when I’m the one who’s been there for you. I took care of you when you had no one. Who else would have been willing to raise another man’s child?”
“Where is that child?” I rushed out. “Where’s Belle?”
He hardened before my eyes. “She’s dead. Because of you.”
Mal freed me, tossing me over his shoulder. I thrashed as he carried me outside and onto the dock. “She is dead because you tried to leave me. You force me to do terrible things, Arabella. But I’ll admit this time, I’ll do it with a smile on my face.”
Heaving up the ladder, Malcolm climbed on and brought me into a small, narrow cabin without windows. I was dumped face-first on the bed. I pushed up to him standing over me.
“If I find out you sent that message, your boyfriend dies. Doesn’t matter which. I’ll tell him to have his fun choosing.”
He ducked out. I heard the sound of a bolt sliding into place. “Sit tight, a chroí. One more day and this will all be over.”
My new prison had no clock and no escape.
A bed, a small sofa attached to the wall, and a door that opened into a bathroom with a toilet and sink. I checked every inch for a weapon, phone, or even a spoon to throw at him.
Nothing.
The whole time I heard him above me, getting on and off the boat. I gave up the search as the engine hummed to life.
I bolted up, scrabbling at the door handle.
We’re leaving? He said we have one more day. We can’t go. I rammed my shoulder into the door. They’ll never find me.
I pounded and screamed. Flung myself against the wood until I bruised. The door didn’t budge.
Time passed.
Hours by my rumbling stomach’s estimation.
I guess I should be glad he left me access to a toilet this time.
Despair bowled me over, weakening my knees and sending me to the floor. I dropped my head on the couch, letting the first tear fall.
We were leaving the cove behind.
It was too much to ask for number four.
THE CABIN DOOR CREAKED open.
“Get out.”
“Why?” I croaked. My nose was stuffed from crying.
I raised my pounding head, blinking through bleary eyes, and the sight of him calm and relax surged a flood of hatred the likes of which I’d never felt.
“Get the fuck away from me.”
“There’s no need for that.”
Mal reached for me and I smacked his hand away.
“I said don’t touch me!”
To my surprise, he backed up, arms raised. “I just want to show you something, love. I think it will make you happy.”
“It won’t,” I said. “Go away.”
“Your search and rescue team. Don’t you want to know what happened to them?”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, sitting up straighter. “What’s it matter now? We left the cove.”
“We haven’t gone as far as you think.” With that, he left, leaving the door wide open for me to follow.
Haven’t gone as far as I think?
I hesitated a few more beats and then pushed myself up.
Mal loomed above me, his hand swept out. “See for yourself.”
I stepped onto the deck and looked to where he pointed.
“What? I—” I twisted, sweeping the shoreline. There was no mistake. We were tied by the dock. Right in front of the little blue shack. “How are we back here?”
“I went out to sea and sailed around in circles a few times, waiting for the cops to come, confirm the place is empty, and leave. I removed the food, trash, and clothes. Quickly wiped down our prints. There was nothing for them to find.”
“But... they wouldn’t just go,” I whispered. “They would watch the place. Make sure we weren’t coming back.”
Mal cupped his hands around his mouth. “Hello? Hello?” he called. “Anyone out there? Malcolm Byrne speaking. I’m here with Arabella Byrne. Anyone coming to arrest me?”
The whistling howl of the wind was his reply.
He hummed. “Guess not.”
I inched away, eyes rounding as the truth hit me before I asked. “What did you do?”
Malcolm smiled—that heartbreakingly beautiful smile that ruined my life. “I made you a promise, a chroí, that we’d be together and no one would get in our way. You did not give me much time”—he looked around—“disappearing into