Chapter 43
Piper
I’m shivering as I walk over the boardwalk with my flashlight. I may have slightly oversold my confidence in being able to carry out this plan. It is dark and the hoodie and denim jacket that I have on is doing nothing to warm me up. Honestly, my nerves are shot.
I know the plan. Holt made me go over it with him so many times, I was almost annoyed.
Now I understand why. I know this trail.
Meg and I have walked it so many times an iced coffee in hand, chatting about such mundane things.
It feels dangerous and dark now. My mind is playing tricks on me.
I keep thinking I’m hearing things. I know that Holt and Sterling are all set up strategically near the meeting space.
Meg had to take me to my house to grab my car.
We needed to make it look like I was arriving alone.
Carter rode with us, and now everyone is at their stations.
No one is there yet. So I sit down on the rickety bench that has been there for far too long and take a deep breath. This is fine. Everything is fine. I’m fine.
“Keep it together, Piper. You are a strong independent woman. You can handle this,” I mutter to myself.
My personal pep talk does nothing to ease my stress.
My watch says it is 11:03. He is late. Maybe he decided not to show.
Relief and disappointment war inside me at the idea that we may need to do something else. Then I hear something.
All of a sudden, a figure comes out from the shadows. They are tall— but not as tall as Holt.
“Piper,” the figure greets me. I don’t recognize his voice and his face is still obscured by shadows. I stand quickly. My voice suddenly caught in my throat.
“I’m so glad that you came,” he says and takes another step closer to me. Swallowing, I force a response.
“I said I would,” was all I could manage. I am still trying to place him, and I’m waiting for Holt to come out of his hiding place with Sterling. I know they are there. Before anything happens the stranger is right in front of me.
“ I missed you,” I take a step back and look up. Finally, recognizing him. He came into the cafe a lot a few months ago. He used to order a coffee and a muffin and sit in the corner for hours on his laptop. Then he stopped coming in. The only time we spoke was for him to place his order and pay.
“Well, aren’t you going to say you missed me,” he says. I can hear the desperation and anger in his voice. I start to back away a bit more. I need more space. Where the fuck is Holt?
“Piper, Piper, you have been a naughty girl,” the stranger sings.
My skin crawls. I can’t wait for him to get pummeled.
I can tell just by his quick mood change, he is definitely crazy.
I see Holt step silently from behind. He puts a finger over his mouth and shakes his head.
I manage to pretend like he isn’t there.
Holt begins recording on his phone, and I start to talk.
“I remember you,” I say, trying to distract him. I’m backing up a little bit, but he keeps advancing. “What is your name,” I ask him. Trying to sound like I am interested.
“You always were a bit selfish, but don’t worry we will work on that. Nothing a little training won’t help,” he says. I swallow the nausea. I have no interest in hearing about his idea of ‘training’. Holt is inching closer.
“Anyway, Johnathan is the name. It took you long enough to ask. I have been watching you for years. I was going to make my move months ago, but then Holt showed up,” he snarls. His hands go to his head and he tugs at the short hair that is there. It is barely long enough for him to do.
“When I saw that you were starting to look at him the way you looked at me, I decided it was time to teach you a lesson,” he says quietly. I know I need to get him to own up to some of the shit he did, so I ask.
“Are you the one that has been vandalizing my store and my home,” I ask quietly. I need him to admit it so that the sheriff has something to use.
“Yes, you always were a bit slow. It’s okay, once we go away together there will be time to work on this,” he says casually.
“Go away together, go where,” I say slowly. My brain is trying to catch up to the fact that he has a plan.
“You don’t need to know—I have a cabin far away that is all set up. You will love it, ” he says.
“Why didn’t you just come to me and talk to me. My windows at home? The cafe,” I ask the question trailing off.
“Look I’m sorry—but your actions have consequences. I couldn’t let your slutty behavior continue. What type of a husband would I be,” he says. His eyes seem vacant, like there is nothing behind them. I shake my head at the revelation that he planned on us getting married. This guy was so deluded.
“Husband, what are you talking about,” I say slowly. I see him shake his head again and his hands clench into fists.
“Piper, I know what is best for you. We will get married and have babies,” he licks his lower lip as he says it and I almost lose what little food I have eaten the last few hours.
“We need to leave— NOW,” he yells and moves to grab me. I jump backwards and Holt jumps forward. Tackling him from behind.
“You do not fucking touch her,” Holt grinds out while punching every available surface of Johnathan’s body.
“Great work, Piper,” Sterling says. He seems to stroll out of nowhere and moves near Holt. Sterling slowly moves towards the scuffle. He is relaxed. Holt is punching Johnathan so hard in the stomach, I can hear the air whooshing out of him, and I wince slightly.
“You piece of shit, I should end you,” I can hear him saying. He starts punching him in the face, and I hear an uncomfortable crunching sound.
“Sterling,” I say desperately, “Stop him,” I continue. Sterling looks at me and shakes his head.
“He isn’t done yet, Piper. I’ll stop him before it goes to far,” Sterling sounds so matter of fact. He starts to pull out some hand cuffs slowly.
Johnathan tries to swing at Holt, and I take a step forward. Sterling puts his hand up. “Don’t come any closer, Piper,” he says stoically.
Holt flips Johnathan over and kneels on his back. He has Johnathan’s hands restrained in one hand. The other is pushing his head face down into the dirt.
“This is nothing compared to what I will do to you if I ever see you again. Do you understand me. You will die a slow and painful death. I will skin you alive. I will break every bone in your body,” he says dangerously.
I believe that he is telling the truth. Holt’s darkness shouldn’t turn me on, but I find my thighs clenching slightly.
“Quit messing around and cuff him,” Sterling says gruffly to Holt. It is like they do this all the time.
“The Sheriff will be here in 3 minutes,” Sterling says as if to remind him that he is running out of time.
Holt wrenches Johnathans hands back so hard that Johnathan wails.
He stops just short of breaking them and cuffs his wrists together.
Sterling moves to keep Johnathan on the ground.
His tall, muscular frame having no issues keeping him subdued.
When Holt is satisfied that he is no longer a danger, he approaches me.
"Piper,” he pauses in his approach gauging my emotions his hands are raised. I rush toward him to hug him. He grunts in surprise, but hugs me tightly. I breathe in his scent and my muscles finally relax.