Tease Me (Private Listing #4)

“No, but you became their whore.” When Patrick lifts his hand, it takes me a moment to recognize the black thing he’s holding as a gun. Oh, shit! The world slows down suddenly. The air sizzles with tension.

Hunter makes a noise, but then a crack fills the room. Anna screams. I jump back against the wall. I hold my breath. Hunter staggers, bending over but not falling to the ground.

“I had plans. Hunter would have killed Anna and I would have killed Hunter. The guy who stalked you and killed my wife. You would have been grateful and realized what you really needed was me. I needed someone to save you from. But I didn’t realize how incompetent Hunter would be.” Patrick steps forward and I move. The wine bottle is heavy, but I keep it raised to strike.

Blood pours over Hunter’s hand where he grips his shoulder, but he’s still standing.

“You’re fucking mental.” Hunter lunges, but he’s too far away. Another crack fills the room along with the acrid scent of smoke. I scream and duck this time.

Anna cries out as Hunter hits the ground.

“Now, I didn’t want to be the one to do this, Anna.” Patrick swings the gun her way.

“What are you doing?” she whispers. Her eyes are wide as she stares at the gun in her husband’s hands, pointed at her. My pulse thunders in my ears.

He’s going to kill her.

He killed Hunter.

But Patrick doesn’t show any emotion as he looks at the woman he married and had kids with. Chills shake me. I can see the monster that stalked me. He hid it well, but now it’s out and I’ll never be able to forget it.

“What Hunter was supposed to do, dear. Don’t worry. I’ll tell the kids you were a hero who tried to save Madison from her stalker, but he shot you.”

“Wait!” I yell, finally finding my way out of my paralysis. I can’t let him kill Anna. “Wait, please. You don’t have to do this.”

I set the bottle on the bar and hold my shaking hands up in surrender. Anna is pale and trembling. I can get us out of this.

“Yes, I do. She’ll ruin everything.” His eyes narrow on her, but I’m the one he’s obsessed with. I’m the one that can talk him down. Maybe?

“Patrick, please. Let’s talk about this. I don’t want you to have to kill your wife.” Fuck, I step out from behind the bar and walk around Hunter’s prone body. My stomach turns, but I swallow back the bile that wants to rise. “You want it to be you and me, right?”

“That’s all I’ve ever wanted.” His brown eyes lift to mine. I force a smile.

“I was worried you would be like Hunter.” I try not to think of his body on the floor and the pool of blood beneath him. My heart is working triple time. I can’t let him kill Anna. I just need time. “Why don’t we let Anna lie down in the guest bedroom while we talk?”

“This won’t work with her alive. She’ll take my children from me.” His finger inches toward the trigger.

“I’m sure she’ll be more reasonable once she’s slept some. Head injuries.” I glance at her face. Tears stream down her cheeks and she seems frozen in fear, staring down the barrel of the gun. “You can always deal with her later if you have to, but…” Oh, god, I don’t want to do this. “I dressed especially for you.”

Goosebumps rise on my skin thinking of all the times he watched me. The lengths he went to follow me and keep me under his thumb. The terror he reigned on my life.

“Morrigan was supposed to be a test.” The gun lowers a little, but he still has it aimed at Anna. “You would have needed my help.”

I nod like I understand. “I’m sorry I failed.”

He gives me the smile that must have made Anna fall in love with this psychopath. “You’re perfect in every other way. Everyone has flaws.”

He should know. He’s a fucking psychopath, but I nod again. Like I accept my fate.

“Anna looks a little queasy. Why don’t I help her lie down and then you and I can be alone?” I step even closer to her and put my hand on her shoulder. Please, just do this one thing.

His gaze drops to Anna and she sucks in a breath.

“Fine. For now.” He drops the gun to his side.

I breathe a little easier. I help Anna rise and walk her to the guest bedroom. As we cross the threshold, she grips my arm.

“We have to get out of here,” she whispers.