Hold on, Tessa. I’m coming. Hold on, my fairy queen.
Chapter31
Tessa
As I jolted around, I was really worried I was going to fall off.
The ATV bumped up the mountain trail. Rupert was driving way too fast, and with my hands tied, I couldn’t hold on very well. My leg muscles were screaming with pain from where I was gripping the seat.
Rupert. It was Rupert.
Quiet, unassuming—and I used to think sweet, but I’d had to revise that descriptor—Rupert was the saboteur slash attempted murderer.
My heart was beating too fast. I had no idea what he had planned.
My thoughts turned to Ro. He’d be worried. God, I hoped he realized I was missing. I bit my lip. I should’ve talked to him. I should’ve told him how I felt.
Now, I might never get the chance.
The ATV hit a large bump and my teeth snapped together. A moment later, the cabin came into view. Rupert must have known it wasn’t booked today.
He pulled to a stop, then dragged me off the vehicle. “It’s just us now, Tessa. You’ve always told me how romantic the cabin is.”
“Rupert, we need to talk…” I struggled to stay upright.
He ignored me and shoved the door open, then yanked me inside. He tossed me toward the bed. I hit it on my side, righted myself, and perched on the edge.
“It was you,” I said sadly. “You caused the power outage, you locked me and Ro in the basement, you made the chandelier fall.”
“Yes! It was supposed to scare Langston off or hurt him.”
“I nearly fell through that loose railing.”
“It was meant forhim.”
“And that poor deer. You killed a deer.”
A proud look crossed his face. “I bet you didn’t know I hunted.”
I looked into his eyes, and what I saw sent a chill down my spine. He looked off, a dead, blank look behind his gaze.
“You poisoned me, Rupert. I almost died.”
“You weren’t supposed to be there! It was meant for Langston.” Rupert whirled, spitting the words at me.
I tried to loosen the ropes on my wrists. Maybe I could get free. “Why? Why would you do this?”
“The hotel should bemine.” His angry voice echoed off the walls. “Not his.”
I kept my voice calm and even. “It was a long time ago that it belonged to your great-grandfather. It has nothing to do with Ro?—”
His face contorted. “Don’t call him that. It’s Langston.”
I dragged in a deep breath. “You’ve never owned or run a hotel, Rupert. Your great-grandfather started it and lost it.”
“It was stolen from him.” Rupert ran his hands through his hair, his movements jerky. “It was my birthright and it was stolen from me. My father always talked about it. He was angry that we didn’t own the Windward Resort as we rightfully should.” He lowered his voice. “It should be ours, son. It was stolen from us.”
I swallowed. “I thought you liked your work. You’re good at it.”
