Someone touched my shoulder. I jumped, juggling the phone until eventually, it fell to the floor. I whipped my head around. It was Rosalee, leaning over my shoulder. Had she seen the messages? My chest clenched with fear.

“Have you been to New Orleans before?” she asked sweetly, voice soft as a mouse.

I sighed. Hopefully she didn’t see anything. She was just being friendly, and I should do the same. After all, the whole point of this trip was to celebrate her marriage to my best friend…

“No, I haven’t. Have you?” I forced a smile, swallowing back the dread and fear in my chest, trying to disconnect the shaky fear in my chest from my voice. I’m coming, those words ran like a scroll in my brain. I know where you went…

Rosalee shook her head and sat back in her seat, looking scrunched and uncomfortable between Bri and Mara. I had to admit, Rosalee was a hard one to figure out. She seemed sweet and friendly, and I knew Asher was crazy about her. That was why he proposed. But I often got the sense that she didn’t like me or trust me, and I wondered what she really thought of my friendship with Asher. I didn’t blame her. If my fiancé was hanging around with another woman, I’d be skeptical too…

“Look!” Bri pointed from the backseat. We were approaching the square, traffic moving slow. A group of children stood on the corner under a bright green awning, shirtless with big wide smiles as they played their songs. A trombone slid forward and back, one kid sat on his haunches beating a hand drum while others strummed guitars. It was a joyous sound, buzzing and vibrant, and the kids were drawing a crowd. It was the kind of moment that should have made me feel happy and excited, but the adrenaline swooshing through my veins from those texts had caused a different type of rush.

As the others were watching the bands and crowds from the back windows, I ducked down to scoop up my phone from the floor. I didn’t read the other eight messages—there would be time for that later. And let’s face it, the messages would be the same. Threatening and angry. The sender wanted me dead, simple as that. They couldn’t have made their point any clearer…

I opened a new message and typed quickly, reaching out to the only living soul who understood my concerns and could provide some sort of solace.

Asher, I’m scared. I wish you were here. I don’t feel safe anywhere right now.

Chapter Six

Rosalee

The bride-to-be

There was a roaring in my eyes, my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, and my head was pounding as we arrived at the Leblanc-Landry house for my bachelorette party.

Bachelorette party. What a joke.