Mind Games

Rookie mistake.

But she made her way down, foothold by handhold, as flaming balls of rock flew out of the volcano, crashed into the jungle, onto the beach head, into the Rage.

She sprinted across the sand, untied the boat. Engaging the motor, she sped away and watched the island burn behind her. Waves of heat slapped the air. Panicked animals raced toward the sea, some burning as they ran.

Thea gave the sharks a wide berth, then pulled to shore on Sanctuary Island.

He’d never gotten out of the jungle.

“Stay out of my head, Ray. Stay clear of me or I’ll bring you back to this. Or worse, I’ll bring you back and keep you there.

“You can wake up now. Game over.”

She rolled over in bed, checked the time.

Three hours and thirty-six minutes. And she felt every second of it. Her head ached, her muscles throbbed, her throat screamed with thirst.

But she’d made her point, to Riggs, to herself.

She could hurt him, and she would, without hesitation, without mercy.

Rising, she got a bottle of ibuprofen, took three, and downed two glasses of water. Though she didn’t expect he’d try anything tonight, and hopefully never again, she hung her charm bag, and the two more she’d made.

She said the words.

Then slipped back into bed and into quiet dreams.

Chapter Eighteen

As June bumped into July, Ty decided to take that walk to the little farm down the road. It seemed much less stressful than facing the terrifying Ready to Assemble on the play set he’d bought Bray.

Hand him an instrument, he’d figure out how to play it. Hand him a hammer, and very bad things happened.

Given it was Saturday, he had to hope he wouldn’t interrupt Lucy’s work. Besides, she’d said to bring Bray, and seemed to mean it.

And his boy brimmed with excitement over the whole thing.

“Moo!” Bray strutted down the side of the road. “Pet the cow!”

There, Ty reserved judgment.

“Goat says naaaaa! Pet the goat.”

“Maybe. Let’s wait and see.”

Did goats bite?

“Chickens go cluck, cluck. More chickens. Doggies, too, Daddy.”

“So I hear.”

Maybe, considering, the play set assembly would be less hazardous. But since he caught sight of the house, too late to turn back.

Nice place, he decided. It looked sturdy and homey and like it had been there forever.

Bray raised his arms. “Up!”

And ten paces later, wiggled. “Down!” As the dog mountain and two long-eared dogs ran around the house.