15

Carrie

I woke up with the taste of salt on my lips—whether from tears or the sea breeze whispering through the cracks of my window, I couldn’t tell—but I lay there for a long time, staring up at the ceiling, tracing invisible patterns across the smooth white expanse, and listening to the rhythmic thud of my heart as it tried to settle into something that resembled calm.

The truth was, I hadn’t really slept, not properly, not since that night when everything inside me shifted—when Nathan’s eyes, dark and stormy, held mine for a fraction too long, and his fingers, rough and calloused, brushed against my skin like a promise he was too afraid to make.

And I couldn’t stop replaying it, over and over in my head, like a scene from a film I didn’t know the ending to yet.

I sat up slowly, my muscles stiff, my breath catching when I glanced toward the door that had been left ajar, as though he might step through it at any moment, as though last night’s moment hadn’t ended with a retreat and silence and all the things left unsaid.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded across the cold wooden floor, grabbing my robe and pulling it tight around me, not because I was cold but because I needed something—anything—to anchor me.

The kitchen was quiet, too quiet, and the mug I’d left on the counter last night was still there, the ghost of lipstick smudged along the rim. I rinsed it out slowly, deliberately, focusing on the mundane, because the alternative—the swirl of emotions I didn’t want to name—felt too heavy to carry this early.

“Nathan?” I called out softly, half-hoping and half-dreading his answer.

Silence.

A tight knot formed in my chest, and I crossed to the window, peering out at the street below. His car was there, parked in its usual spot, but he was nowhere in sight.

Of course, I told myself. He’s probably doing one of his rounds, checking every shadow, every corner, the way he always does.

I tried to busy myself with coffee, pouring too much sugar, then too little milk, and by the time I sat down at the breakfast table, my hands were trembling so badly I almost knocked the cup over.

What was happening to me?

I wasn’t the girl who pined after bodyguards or lay awake at night wondering what a man like Nathan Woods was thinking. I was the girl who ran away from things, from feelings, from danger, from home.

I set my cup down hard, pushing my chair back and pacing the length of the kitchen, frustration simmering just beneath my skin.

And then my phone rang.

I jumped, heart hammering, and snatched it up without checking the caller ID.

“Hello?”

“Carrie, it’s Betty.”

I exhaled shakily, relieved to hear my best friend’s voice, though the tension in her tone set my nerves on edge.

“Betty, hey. What’s wrong?”

There was a pause, a heavy one, and then: “You need to come to town. Now.”

I stiffened. “Why? What happened?”

“I… I don’t want to say it over the phone. Just… please. Come quickly.”

I hesitated, glancing instinctively at the door, wishing Nathan were here, wishing I didn’t have to make this decision alone. But the urgency in Betty’s voice was enough to propel me into action.

“Okay,” I said. “I’m coming.”

I threw on the first clothes I could find—a simple sundress and flats—and scribbled a note for Nathan in case he came back while I was gone. Had to meet Betty in town. Will explain later. - C.

The drive to town was a blur, my mind racing with possibilities, none of them good. Betty never panicked, and if she was worried, it had to be serious.

I pulled up outside the café where we always met, scanning the crowd until I spotted her by the window, her face pale, eyes darting nervously.

She stood up the moment I walked in, grabbing my arm and steering me to a quiet corner.

“Betty, what is it? You’re scaring me.”

She took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup. “You need to see this.”

She slid a newspaper across the table, and my stomach dropped when I saw the headline.

HE’S BACK: DANIEL PARKER SPOTTED IN ORCA BAY.

I stared at the photo beneath it—a grainy shot of a man in a baseball cap and sunglasses, but I would have known him anywhere. The curve of his jaw, the smug tilt of his head—it was him.

Daniel.

“No,” I whispered, my hands shaking as I gripped the paper. “No, this… this can’t be real.”

“It is,” Betty said softly. “And that’s not all.”

She pulled out her phone and showed me a text message from an unknown number. Tell Carrie she’s next. She can’t hide forever.

I felt the blood drain from my face, my vision swimming.

“I… I have to call Nathan,” I said, fumbling for my phone.

But before I could dial, a shadow fell across our table, and I looked up—straight into Daniel’s eyes.

“Hello, Carrie,” he drawled, a cruel smile curving his lips. “Miss me?”

My heart stopped, my breath caught in my throat, and for a split second, I couldn’t move, couldn’t think.

And then everything exploded into chaos.

Betty gasped, knocking her coffee cup over, the dark liquid spilling across the table in a widening stain that no one seemed to notice. My breath came in sharp bursts now, my pulse a frantic drumbeat against my ribs. I stood up so fast my chair toppled backward, the screech of its legs against the floor slicing through the stunned silence around us.

“Sit down, Carrie,” Daniel said smoothly, sliding into the seat opposite me like we were old friends meeting for a casual brunch, like he hadn’t stalked and terrorized me, like he hadn’t sent vile letters that left me sleepless and broken for months.

I stayed frozen, muscles tight and ready to run, eyes darting to the door, to the windows, calculating escape routes. Betty was pale and trembling, her hand gripping my wrist under the table like a lifeline.

“What do you want, Daniel?” I managed to say, my voice thin but steady, belying the terror pooling in my gut.

He laughed, a low, mirthless sound that scraped at my nerves. “I just wanted to see you. Catch up. You’ve been hiding, Carrie. That wasn’t very nice of you.”

“I wasn’t hiding,” I lied, my eyes flicking to the café staff who were watching, unsure whether to intervene. “I moved on. You should too.”

His smile faltered, and for a heartbeat I saw the mask slip, the fury burning just beneath his cool exterior. He leaned forward, eyes hard and unblinking. “We both know it’s not that simple.”

I could feel Betty squeezing my wrist, a silent plea to keep my cool, but my panic was swelling fast, threatening to drown out all rational thought.

“I have nothing to say to you,” I said, my voice shaking now, betraying me.

“Oh, but I have so much to say to you,” Daniel murmured, his gaze flicking to Betty with disdain. “Tell your little friend here to leave us alone. We have unfinished business.”

“No,” I snapped, my fear laced with a burst of defiance. “Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of her.”

His eyes darkened, and he sat back slowly, drumming his fingers against the table. “Have it your way. But you should know, Carrie… this little game of cat and mouse? It’s over. I’m tired of waiting.”

My skin prickled, a wave of nausea rolling through me. “You don’t scare me anymore.”

His smile stretched wider, cold and cruel. “Oh, but I should.”

At that moment, the bell above the café door jingled, and relief flooded me when I saw Nathan striding in, his eyes scanning the room with military precision, landing on me instantly. His jaw tightened, his hand brushing against his waistband in that familiar way that told me his gun was close, ready.

“Nathan!” I called out, my voice breaking.

Daniel’s eyes flicked over his shoulder, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of unease pass over his face. He stood quickly, shoving his chair back with a screech.

Nathan crossed the room in long, purposeful strides, his eyes locked on Daniel, his whole body radiating a lethal kind of calm.

“Step away from her,” Nathan commanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Daniel held his hands up mockingly, his eyes glittering with malice. “Relax, soldier boy. Just a friendly chat.”

Nathan stepped in front of me, shielding me completely, his stance wide and unyielding. “This is your only warning. Get out. Now.”

Daniel’s lips curled into a sneer. “I’ll be seeing you around, Carrie,” he said, and with a last cold look, he turned and walked out of the café, leaving a trail of tension and fear in his wake.

Nathan turned to me, his hands gripping my shoulders tightly. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

I shook my head, my whole body trembling now that the immediate danger was gone. “No, but… he said things, Nathan. He’s not done. He’s going to come after me.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Nathan growled, pulling me into his chest, his arms wrapping around me so tightly I could barely breathe—but I didn’t care. I pressed my face into him, letting his strength seep into me, letting myself feel safe for the first time all day.

Betty stood up shakily, her eyes wide and tearful. “Nathan, he—he threatened her. He’s dangerous.”

Nathan’s jaw clenched. “I know. I’ve been digging into his background. He’s more unhinged than I thought.”

He pulled back slightly, looking down at me, his eyes fierce but softening at the edges. “We’re not taking any more chances. You’re coming with me. Now.”

I nodded wordlessly, too shaken to argue. Nathan led me out of the café, his arm around my shoulders, holding me close, as if daring anyone to come near.

Betty trailed behind us, her voice shaky. “What do you want me to do, Carrie?”

“Just—just be careful,” I said, turning to hug her tightly. “And thank you for calling me.”

“Text me when you’re safe,” she whispered, her eyes glassy with worry.

“I will.”

Nathan guided me to his car and helped me in, his hand lingering on mine for a second longer than necessary. He slammed the door shut and rounded the hood, sliding into the driver’s seat, his jaw set, his eyes dark with purpose.

“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice small.

“Somewhere safe,” he said grimly, starting the engine. “Somewhere he won’t find you.”

And as we sped away from the café, from the chaos and fear and ghosts of my past, I realized something deep in my bones: there was no going back now. This was war. And I wasn’t fighting it alone anymore.