“All right, Little Bird, since you insisted on coming with me, I need you to listen and listen well.”
Preston wanted to drop me off at Micha’s. I refused. Trina was not going to slip through my fingers. Not again. I wouldn’t make the same mistake I did in childhood. This time, I would save her. No matter what it took.
“This prick wants me, not you.” Preston grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. “So no matter how much you want to run out there, you will stay behind me. Understand?”
I swallowed and nodded my head. “What if he hurts you?”
Preston rolled his eyes. “He’s not that good.”
He was awfully sure of himself. “He was good enough to put a hit out on everyone.”
“Anyone with a computer could’ve done that.”
That was a valid point, but still…
“How long has he been here without you knowing?”
Preston filled me in on whom he suspected this guy was, which I’d have a word with Micha about later. You didn’t hire a kid to kill someone, and it didn’t matter if he was a kid too.
“Exactly my point. This asshole had plenty of time to take me out, yet he didn’t.” Preston cocked a brow at me. “Do you know why?”
“No. Why would I know that? I’m not a….” I glanced down at the blood staining my skin. “Okay, I’m not a cold-hearted killer.”
“That frat boy was pretty cold, but that’s a discussion for another time.” Preston nodded at something through the windshield. “Show time.”
My heart stopped. Standing out on the edge of the bluff was Trina with a gun pressed to her temple. He was going to shoot her. My sister’s blood would be added to the countless others that died here. This place really was cursed.
I didn’t notice I was standing outside until I heard Preston grumble, “Fuck sakes.”
He could be mad all he wanted, but my sole focus was on my sister and the sheet wrapped around her. It was flapping in the wind like a hand waving me over, and I followed the beckoning and stepped over the railing onto the rocky ridge.
“Marnie!” Preston yelled, or at least I thought he did. I could hear his footsteps coming up behind me, but I couldn’t stop myself from moving forward.
I needed to get to Trina and the sweet smile spreading across her face.
“Marnie,” she sighed. “You shouldn’t have come.”
“I had to come.”
“No,” she said. “You didn’t.”
“Preston.” The guy holding her called out through the rain pouring down around us. “Put it down.”
“Bite me, dickhead.”
I felt a finger dig into my shoulder, followed by a growl. “I told you to stay behind me.”
It was Preston. I knew what his touch felt like. As much as I wanted to look back and seek comfort in his face, I couldn’t take my eyes off Trina.
The smile I thought was sweet…wasn’t sweet at all. It was small and sad. She was so close, yet seemed so far.
“Trina…”
I reached out for her, but Preston pulled me back and cocked his gun. My heart instantly picked up.
“No.” I grabbed his hand.
If he took the shot, Trina would go over the edge with him.
