out on the couch. I did not want to leave him alone.
I wanted to concentrate on the car drive to Abigail's house, but she was chatty when she was buzzed. “Tyler really likes you,” she said. “Do you like him?”
“Of course I do. He's a great guy.”
“He's never been like this with any woman before. I think he's really into you.” Abigail sighed happily. “Wouldn't it be great if you both got married and you were my sister-in-law?” she asked.
I was pretty sure I'd ruined any chance of that happening. But it was a really nice thought. And I was charmed that Abigail would want me as a family member.
While she rambled, I called Jenny on my burner phone again.
Once again, no answer.
I watched Abigail make it safely into her house. I even went up to the front door and made sure she locked it behind her. “Drink some water okay? And don't open the door until Barrett’s here okay?”
“Okay!” She yelled from inside.
Satisfied that she would listen to what I said, I pulled my car back on the road. I cruised down Magnolia Street, avoiding the potholes that were made worse by the recent rains. The air was crisp and cool and I lowered the sunroof. In Chicago on Thanksgiving, the air would be far too cold to drive with the sunroof down.
As I turned right onto Oak Street I glanced at the rearview mirror. There was a car following me. Shit. There was hardly anyone on the roads here today. If they were following me it was for a reason.
The car was a black sedan. Nondescript. There were dozens like it, even in a town as small as Pine Hill.
My heart picked up. Had I led someone to Abigail's house? Had I put her in danger? I was such an idiot. Why had I not learned my lesson and listened to Tyler? If I got his sister killed, I deserved whatever punishment he doled out for me.
I grabbed my regular phone and dialed Barrett's number. I didn't bother with polite greetings. “Where are you?” I demanded.
“I'm in Abigail's driveway. Why, what's going on?”
“Is Mrs. Whittaker with you?”
“Yes.”
My heart slowed a little. They would be fine. “Okay. I don’t want to keep you. Just go in and get her okay?”
“You sound weird. What's going on?”
“Nothing. I'm fine I just wanted to check on Abigail. I shouldn't have taken her home alone, or left her there while she was tipsy.”
“That's great, I'm glad you're worried about her. But I'm worried about you. If something happens to you, there won't be anything left of me to find once Tyler gets done with me.”
“Barrett, you’re a good friend to him. And to me too. I’ve got to go.”
“Ava, you tell me where you are right now.”
Dammit. I could no longer concentrate on the road and talk to Barrett. I hit the ‘end’ button and dropped the phone.
Fuck.
My instincts have been correct. Someone was following me. But it wasn't Jenny. At this point I would have welcomed her chasing me.
The truth was much worse.
It was Carl.
My father’s other partner.
And he wasn’t going to let me get away.
He accelerated the car.
He got so close to me that I could see his vile face through the windshield. “You shithead,” I screamed. I’d made a home here. I had a family. I was in love. And now this bastard was trying to take it from me.
Then he bumped into my car. My breath caught in my throat as my car jolted to the right. My small BMW had enough power to stay on the road, but a dinkier car might have spun right off.
I accelerated. Surely my luxury coupe could outrun his generic sedan. I sped up, hitting sixty, but we were now on a residential street. Around this area, people were constantly jogging, riding bikes, and walking dogs. I wasn’t going to hit one of them to save myself.
So it looked like outrunning the car wasn't an option. It was Thanksgiving Day, so the streets were quieter than usual but every now and then I spotted families gathered on front porches. They spilled out into the front yards. Maybe if they were there to witness what happened, Carl wouldn't be quite so awful.
I had no choice but to crash into his car.
I made sure my seat belt was tight and made sure the bottom strap was around my hips, and not over my stomach. I put my hand over my abdomen. “I’m so sorry, little