My gaze locked on my wrist secured to the door and the final pieces came into place. I hadn’t been hurt enough for Derek’s pleasure. He was going to end me altogether.

My breaths came faster as I tugged at the tape. As I clawed at the bindings, Derek laughed. “It won’t do any good. Too many layers. It’s unfortunate that mental illness runs in a family. First, one sister overdoses, and then the other dies by suicide. A shame.”

“Don’t do this. Please.” I wasn’t above begging. “I’ll do whatever you want—”

“I don’t want a fucking thing from you.”

My free hand went to the horn, hoping someone would hear me. Maybe Mason was close. My chest constricted as his face filled my mind. I’d messed everything up, and now my last words to him would be ones of anger and hurt.

The butt of Derek’s gun slammed down on my hand as I pressed the horn again. I cried out in pain, bringing my arm to my chest.

“Enough,” he barked. “We’re done.”

“Don’t,” I whispered, tears of pain and desperation leaking out.

“Should’ve let you give me the world.” He climbed out from behind the wheel.

I frantically searched for keys but there were none. My hatchback began rolling towards the water. I reached for the gear shift, but my fingers could barely grasp it. And when I tried to close around it, the pain was blinding. I couldn’t. There had to be broken bones in my hand.

Water surged around the vehicle as Derek gave me a final push down the incline and into the lake. I yanked as hard as I could on my bound wrist but got nowhere. I pulled my feet up, kicking against the horn. Hoping against hope that someone would hear me. But if they did, no one came. And the water swallowed the vehicle whole.

43

MASON

Cain rolled down the window and punched in the code to my security system. As he did, a horn sounded. He glanced at me as the gates to the property swung open. “What the hell was that?”

“I have no idea.”

He guided his SUV down the drive and left his window open. The horn sounded again, this time in rapid succession. Then there was silence.

The noise was too close to have been from a passing motorist or someone who’d been in an accident out on the main road. I rolled down my window. “I think it might be coming from that direction.” I pointed towards the dirt road that led to the lake.

“I see a light,” Cain said.

What looked like a flashlight beam glinted in the far-off distance. A chill slid down my spine. No one should be out there. I pulled out my phone. “I’m calling Walker. Something’s off. Turn off your headlights.”