Then he turns to me. “Come on. Let me show you the room. It’s down in the basement.” I wasn’t even aware the house had a basement. How much don’t I know yet? How much is he going to show me?

“I can help the guys with the snacks,” I offer, once again looking at the guys. Yes, I don’t like or trust either of them, but I’d rather be with them than alone with James. Colt actually looks like he is about to agree with me, but James is on top of it.

“No.” His voice is stern, leaving no room for an argument. He only says one word, two letters, yet the tone of his voice and an evil glint in his eyes make the threat very clear. If I don’t come, things will be worse.

I don’t want to go, but I don’t feel like I have a choice. Either I follow him and keep him happy or things get really bad. I don’t ever want to go through that again.

He steps up to the wall running beneath the staircase and presses a hand against it, seemingly at random. Like magic, a door springs open. I had no idea it was there. It blends into the wall that well. He makes a grand sweeping gesture with his arm, so I step through the door and walk down the stairs.

“You know, Leni, I was hoping the two of us could have a minute alone together. I’ve done a lot of thinking about the way we left things.”

We? The way we left things? So it was my fault? I almost stumble but quickly regain my balance.

“I’m sorry for losing my cool before I left for the honeymoon.”

My hand tightens around the banister mounted to the wall as the memories come rushing back. He’s even wearing the same cologne. It’s amazing the things a person remembers.

“I didn’t mean to scare you. You just took me by surprise, and I panicked a little. That’s not going to happen again. I promise.”

We reach the bottom of the stairs, and I offer a tight smile because what else can I do. Tell him I know he’s full of shit? Because he is. You can’t get more textbook than that. I didn’t mean it. It will never happen again. I don’t have many years under my belt, but even I know enough to see straight through him. A person doesn’t act that way out of nowhere, and it certainly wasn’t the first time he’s ever hurt a woman. I would bet my life on it.

Unfortunately, I’m afraid that’s exactly what’s at stake here.