Alex knew what she was doing was riskier than anything she’d done before, but that only heightened the anticipation, notching up her adrenaline as she trekked through the mountains in search of the girls. Adam had already been dealt with – the pathetic look on his face as he’d pleaded for mercy would forever be etched in her memory. She’d thought she might feel a little bit of regret or sadness ending her brother’s life, but when it was done, it had felt like accomplishing any other tasteless task. All that was left now was to kill the girls – and the hunter. And then she’d be in the clear once again.

If only Elizabeth Monroe had left well enough alone, none of this would’ve had to happen, but she’d been a problem from the very moment she’d sashayed into Hayden’s life, stealing all his attention away from her.

Alex shut her eyes and allowed herself to be transported back to the day everything had changed. Because she’d concocted a last-minute story about needing him to come by and help her fix her lawn mower, she hadn’t been surprised to see Hayden pull up outside her barn. He’d always been dependable that way. What she hadn’t expected was for him to confide in her that he couldn’t stay long.

Initially, he’d been cagey and refused to tell her why, but she’d been persistent, and so he’d relented, but only after making her swear on her life that she wouldn’t tell a soul. As it turned out, it hadn’t been her life he should’ve been concerned about. She’d pursed her lips and mimicked turning a key in a lock.

He’d breathed out a sigh of relief, and she’d known he hadn’t really wanted to keep it a secret from her. And then he’d confessed that he and Elizabeth were planning on running away that very night because he’d knocked her up and wanted to do the responsible thing. But they had to keep it quiet, he’d said, because poor little Elizabeth was scared of what her parents might do to her if they found out. Alex had covered her mouth and giggled, thinking it was a joke, but when she realized he was dead serious, she’d seen her future slipping away, and she couldn’t have that happen.

Desperate, she’d latched onto his arm and tried reasoning with him, to make him see how she, not Elizabeth, was the one who was meant to be by his side forever. When he’d shaken her off and stepped back, telling her he didn’t reciprocate her feelings because he loved Elizabeth and his unborn child, she’d been hit by a rage so blinding, everything except the driving need to shut him up fell away.