Chapter 37
SYDNEY
Suddenly I’m not sure about this plan.
Partially because Cy isn’t the bait.
I am.
Scarlett, a.k.a. Mary, hates my guts. She loves Cy. Ergo, if she sees the two of us together, it could send her over the edge, and she might finally crack.
We don’t need her confession. But if she admitted that she’s Scarlett, it would help us wrap this up faster.
Though as plans go, this one isn’t terrible.
But it has the potential to shatter my heart further.
Yesterday, when I mentioned it, he didn’t deny that he’d chosen someone else.
But he also didn’t tell me who she was. Maybe that’s a good thing.
Since I don’t know who, I couldn’t spend hours yesterday imagining the two together.
Instead, my imagination was super helpful and alternated between images of Cy with Jade and images of Cy with Josie.
Fuck my life.
“You’re sure you’re okay with this?” Sawyer stands by the fireplace in Cy’s living room, arms crossed. He and a small group of officers plan to wait in the kitchen while Cy and I try to get Mary to crack.
“Fine.” My voice wavers on the single word, so I clear my throat and try again. “Piece of cake.”
If the piece of cake was a fucking dress and full face of makeup and having my hair done.
“Lois knows to head for the kitchen once she answers the door?” Cy asks.
The skin around his mouth is drawn, the lines around his eyes deep with concern. He gave his other staff members the day off, and he wanted Lois to be out of the house as well.
But we need to make this believable. Like we don’t suspect her. Which means having Lois answer the door.
Sawyer nods. “Once she’s in the kitchen, we’ll get her out through the back door. She’ll be safe.”
“Sawyer knows what he’s doing,” I add, trying to ease Cy’s concerns.
His eyes clash and lock with mine, the look taking my breath away.
I know that look.
“What—”
The doorbell rings, interrupting my question about that expression.
Showtime.
Sawyer retreats to the kitchen, and Cy and I settle ourselves on the couch, side by side. The knot in my stomach tightens with fear and anticipation while we wait.
“I didn’t get you in trouble, did I?” I murmur as he drapes his arm around my back.
He tugs me toward him, and my entire body comes to life.
“Trouble?” He peers down at me, his lips close enough that I can see the light sheen of moisture over them.
Fuck. They’re so achingly close.
Lois walks past the living room, heading for the door as the doorbell rings again.
Without overanalyzing it or even considering it, really, I tunnel my fingers through Cy’s hair and bring his lips to mine.
It’s a match to fucking gasoline.
Just like always.
Sparks ignite between us, the electricity humming like always. He parts his lips, his tongue tangling with mine, his hand tightening against my hip.
I want Mary to walk in and find us this way. It should light the fuse quickly.
Yeah, that’s the only reason you’re kissing him.
He’s with the woman he picked. Not me.
Then why is he kissing you like you’re his oxygen mask?
He shifts, moving me until my breasts are pressed against his chest, and everything in my head scatters except for the need to keep kissing him.
We’re lost in one another when an awkward cough snags my attention.
He breaks the kiss slowly, pulling back and winking, then turning to face Mary.
“Mara, how’s it going?” he asks.
Fuck, he’s a good actor.
I’m ready to strip naked and have to take several breaths before I find the ability to sit up so I’m no longer half hidden by Cy.
Her focus is set completely on Cy. If she’s shocked to find him kissing someone, she doesn’t let it show. Not until she finally looks my way. When my identity registers, her mouth drops open and her eyes narrow, the hatred clear in the dark depths.
“What are you doing here?” She tightens her hold on the folder she’s clutching, and her knuckles turn white as she tries to keep her composure.
But Mara/Mary/Scarlett looks nothing like she did while we were filming the show. Her thick glasses are gone, her hair no longer in a bun stuck with a dozen pencils. Gone are the large clothes and running shoes.
Her makeup is perfect. Her hair is recently highlighted and is set in flattering curls around her face. Her T-shirt is tied at the corner, showing off a trim stomach between the hem and her skintight jeans.
A siren.
I open my mouth to answer her question, but Cy beats me to the punch.
“We talked when I got back to LA,” he says. “Sydney and I had a real connection on the show and—”
“But she lied to you,” she shouts, voice shrill. Like a shattered mirror, Mara’s facade cracks. She marches into the living room, only stopping when she’s too close to us for comfort.
Cy stands, pulling me with him.
Sitting would be a mistake right now.
“We talked about that,” he continues. “She may have been there to catch Scarlett, but who she was with me, that was real. That’s all that matters. We fell in love.”
I suck in a breath, trying to hold myself together as his words pummel me.
Because he’s telling the truth.
I was real with him.
I did fall in love.
Forcing those emotions back, I loop my arm through Cy’s and rest my head along his bicep.
Time for the kill shot.
“It was the cabin that did it for us,” I say, affecting a dreamy smile.
“We had so much uninterrupted time to talk. That’s when I finally saw the real Cy.
I didn’t realize that was part of the planned date, Mara, but it was beautiful.
You really did a good job. It was the perfect place to fall in love. ”
I deserve an Academy Award, god dammit. My voice didn’t warble once.
The longer I talk, the darker Mara’s face gets. From pale to red in a few dozen words. The folder falls and the papers—who knows what they actually are—scatter at our feet as she paces away.
“No, no, no, no, no.” She practically growls.
“That cabin wasn’t part of the date. You weren’t even supposed to be there.
The camera man was supposed to spill something on you when he figured out the camera was fucked up so you’d have to go back and change.
That’s the last time I pay for anything with a blowjob! ” She screeches, turning on her heel.
Ew. It takes everything in me not to grimace.
She keeps talking, more to herself than us. I tighten my hold on Cy’s arm, ready to get him out of here if she gets violent. Because now that we’ve cracked the surface, she’s crumbling.
“But he screwed it up. He forgot. Dumbass. I should have done it myself.”
“You weren’t even there.” I draw my brows together, hesitating over my words to add to the perception of confusion.
She laughs. “You know, for being so smart, you’re actually pretty stupid.
You didn’t catch me in your room when I took your dress and shredded it.
Or discover that I was the one who locked you in the bathroom that first night.
I was there. At the cabin. I took the four-wheeler so I could rescue Cy from the storm.
I didn’t expect the two of you to already be on that trail. ”
“You almost killed me.” I take a step forward, ready to fucking deck her, but Cy’s arm tightens, urging me to stay where I am.
She smiles, the expression pure evil. Like she wouldn’t have had a problem with it.
Did she kill the real Mara Langford?
Gooseflesh ripples down my spine.
“You’d have been out of the picture then. I thought I’d finally gotten rid of you that last day on the ranch.” She paces back, once again standing too close.
“The pictures?” I ask.
Her eyes gleam with perverse pleasure. She really is unhinged.
“You’re lucky I only shredded your dress after I checked the footage and discovered what you’d been up to,” she sneers.
“You were hoping something would happen between you and Cy there that night.”
“There was no hope about it. Between the sedatives to help him relax and the Viagra I ordered online, something was going to happen.”
Fuck. My stomach plummets.
Cy stiffens next to me as her story unfolds.
She was going to set him up and rape him.
That’s a confession I never could have anticipated. It takes every ounce of control to stay where I am.
Keep pushing.
“It must have pissed you off to watch that footage of Cy and me, then.” I lower my voice, my tone conspiratorial.
“He is amazing in bed, by the way. The best I’ve ever been with.
I have to tell you a secret.” I lean a little closer.
“That wasn’t the only night we had sex. After we were together there, it was like a drug.
Once I had a taste of Cy, I couldn’t get him out of my mind. At the ranch—”
“You fucking bitch!” she screams, her mask disintegrating completely.
She launches herself at me, rage rolling off her.
I act on instinct.
In one breath, Mara/Mary/Scarlett is lunging for me. And in the next, my fist is connecting with her jaw and she’s flying backward. As she crumples to the floor, Sawyer and the two police officers rush in. Quickly, they pull her to her feet and put her in handcuffs.
My fingers ache, my wrist twinging.
“Are you okay?” Sawyer asks me, genuine concern on his face.
“No, no, no. Cy. Please. I love you,” Mara sobs. “I’ve always loved you. We belong together. Please. Let me go. Cy. Help.” Her crying and yelling continue as the police officers escort her to the front door, only fading as they step outside and the door shuts behind them.
I blow out a breath. “I’m okay.”
Mostly.
Which probably means I need a therapist.
Because what kind of person can say they confronted a stalker while standing beside their ex—or whatever Cy is—and punched her in the face?
Sawyer’s lips twitch. “Cole’s going to be sorry he missed this.”
Cole is stranded in Seattle due to weather delays, but honestly, I’m thankful I didn’t have a bigger audience. Cole doesn’t even know the full story yet.
I’ll tell him.
Eventually.
“Probably for the best,” I say with a grin.
Sawyer grasps my arm and inspects my now swollen knuckles. “Ice that hand. It’s going to hurt like a bitch later.”
It’s already starting to hurt. But I’m not going to admit that.
“You did good, Syd.” His lips twitch.
Pride washes over me. Sawyer’s approval means a lot.
It always has.
But this is different. More meaningful.
“You know I’m good at what I do. Hacking is my life,” I joke.
If I don’t laugh, I’ll cry.
“It’s more than that,” he murmurs. “You did good. Didn’t realize we’d need you to punch her.”
I lift a shoulder and let it drop. “Thank my self-defense classes. And Mara/Mary/Scarlett being a fucking psycho.”
That lip twitch turns into a half smile.
Beside me, Cy is silent. He hasn’t said anything since Mara first got here.
“I, um, I’m going to head out,” Sawyer says, eyeing Cy. “I’ll call James and let him know that Scarlett isn’t a threat anymore.”
“Do you want an after-action tomorrow?” I ask.
It’s our routine with large cases like this.
Sawyer shakes his head. “Let’s give it a few days. I want Cole there, and you deserve a few days off. To relax.” He stresses the last word.
It’s like he doesn’t even know me.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” I huff. “Just text me when you want me in the office.”
“I will. And it won’t be long. We have something else to discuss,” he says.
My heart sinks. Fuck, what did I do now? “We do?”
“I’m going to need your plans for the proposed cyber security arm.”
Blood rushes in my ears, making me question whether I’ve heard him correctly.
But his nod and the quirk of his lips tell me I did.
Holy shit.
I did it.
My own cyber security unit. For Katie. And others like her. For so much more.
Tears threaten behind my eyes, and though I try to sniff them back, they pool and line my lashes. Fuck. With a sob, I throw my arms around him in a gigantic hug.
“You earned it,” he whispers.
I don’t feel like I did. But I won’t turn down this opportunity.
“Thank you,” I murmur, releasing him.
He nods once and shakes Cy’s hand. A moment later, the door thuds for a second time.
And then I’m alone with Cyrus Fucking Darby.
“I’m sure the police will want you to head down to the station for a statement,” I tell him, taking a step away to put a little distance between the two of us.
He nods. “Okay.” He studies me, then scans the space, dragging a hand through his hair.
It’s like he’s lost in his own home. Like he doesn’t know what comes next.
“I—tell whoever you picked that I’m sorry,” I force out. “About the kiss and the hanging on you and stuff. I knew it would provoke Mara.”
And boy did it.
Because that’s the only reason you did it?
It’s the only reason I’ll admit to. Even to myself.
My lips don’t still tingle.
My body doesn’t combust as he fixes his attention on me.
“We need to talk,” he says.
They’re the same words I uttered to him a few days ago.
Shit.