“I’ll take care of it.”
Zona threw up her hands. “You can’t keep taking care of everything she does. She obviously sees me as a threat and she’s not going to stop doing this crazy stuff until she drives me away. Who knows what she’ll do next or who she’ll do it to?”
“She’ll do nothing. I’ll get her out of our lives for good.”
Zona shook her head. “You’re not going to be able to succeed and I can’t deal with another messed-up relationship. Right now she’s parked down the street.”
“I won’t let her do anything.”
“She already has!”
He caught Zona’s hands and held them. “Zona, don’t give up on us. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time. I want to be the same for you,” he added softly.
“Isn’t that sweet.”
Both Zona and Alec turned at the sound of the sneering voice. There stood Angela at the edge of the patio, glaring at them. She wore a crop top and booty shorts, and her red hair was caught up in a sloppy bun. Just your average girl-next-door type, complete with crazed expression.
“This is the real reason why you couldn’t be bothered to help a family member in need, why you wanted me out of your place. It was because of this gold-digging piece of trash.”
“Need?” Alec roared. “In need of a new cell phone, clothes, on top of that car I got you. You’re a leech, Angela. You always have been, and I’m done with you sucking me dry.”
“I needed help!” she cried, her voice rising. “And every time I had to beg you. What would Daddy say?”
He glared and pointed a finger at her. “Don’t you dare bring my father into this.”
“He was my father, too!” she cried, moving closer toward them. “And he’d hate what you’ve done to me. A restraining order against your own sister? You’re a monster.”
Zona couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “No, you’re the monster. You vandalized my car. Twice. And guess what. I’ve made a police report, and I’ve got a picture of you stalking me.”
“A picture of me in my car?” scoffed Angela. “Big deal. Andsomeonevandalized your car, but who knows who that was. And who knows what might happen next. Maybe your stupid dog will die.”
As if he’d understood the threat, Darling began barking from the other side of the fence.
Zona jumped out of her chair, took a threatening step in Angela’s direction, and pointed a finger at her. “Just try it and see what happens to you.”
Angela wasn’t threatened. Instead, she let out a growl and ran at Zona, closing the distance between them, and gave Zona a hard push, sending her into the pool with a screech.
“OKAY, WE’RE CALLINGthe police,” Louise said, pulling out her cell phone.
“They’ll never get here in time,” said Bree. She shot out of her chair and raced around the side of the house toward the fence gate, Darling following after her.
“Martin, do something!” Louise cried. Of course, Martin the milk toast wouldn’t do anything even though both Louise’s daughter and now her granddaughter were in danger. And her dog.
She was reaching for her crutches when, to her surprise, Martin transformed into Super Martin and ran off after Breeand Darling. Who knew Martin was capable of running so fast?
Well, Louise wasn’t going to sit all by herself, unable to see what was happening next door. She put in a call to 911, then grabbed her crutches and got going.
ZONA HAD SPENTher adult life getting taken advantage of, first by a cheater, then by a gambler, and now this little beast had just pushed her in a pool. This wasn’t over. She found her footing and started for the side of the pool. Angela was history.
Alec was leaning over the edge, his hand extended to help Zona out. “Take my hand.”
Behind him, Angela picked up a nearby deck chair and swung it.
“Alec, look out!” Zona cried.
Too late. He wasn’t able to completely dodge the chair, and the impact sent him into the pool as well. The chair went sailing off to the side.
With a roar, Zona pushed herself up out of the pool. Angela let out a squeal and bolted toward the gate.
