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“Stop this car at once, Amber! I’m fucking serious!”

“Was she tired? Fuck, yes! She was fucking exhausted from running around after her kids all day and still having to wait on that dipshit Doug hand and foot. But she wasn’t suicidal. She loved her life. She loved her kids. She loved me! And you fucking took her away!” The car veers again, this time toward the shoulder.

“Stop the fucking car!”

“No!”

Fuck this. I grab the wheel and yank it away from her, but Amber fights me for control.

“Let go!” she screams.

“Stop the car!”

We wrestle over the wheel as the tires leave the pavement with a violent jolt. Gravel spits beneath us as the car careens off the road and toward the trees.

“Brake! Amber, hit the fucking brake!”

Her eyes go wide when she finally sees the massive trunk directly ahead of us. She slams on the brakes, just in time for the car to skid to a stop before we crash into it.

For one suspended second, neither of us moves.

Then I rip off my seat belt and shove the door open.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” I yell as I scramble out. “You’re fucking insane!”

Amber climbs out after me. “And you’re a killer! Which one of us is worse?”

“You’ve completely lost the plot, Amber. I seriously hope you get some help, because this is fucking crazy.”

“I’m not crazy! You are!” she screams after me. “I know why you’re killing us off one by one. We all know! But you won’t get away with it. You hear me? You’ll never get away with it!”

I don’t stick around to hear another word. I march toward the main road, absolutely fuming at myself for being stupid enough to willingly get into a car with a fucking Red.

Worse still, if she feeds this nonsense to her brother, it could eventually find its way to Chief Neptune. I guess I’ll cross that bridge if it comes to it.

Even though I know better than to let Amber’s accusations follow me back to the B&B, they still do.

I went for a walk to ground myself. To find a little peace before the reading. Instead, I’m heading back more wound up than before.

The sight of the overflowing parking lot finally cools some of my anger. These people came all the way here to see me. I can’t let one crazy woman’s ramblings ruin that.

I step into the foyer to find it already crowded with people and immediately duck my head, hurrying upstairs before anyone can stop me. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, I stare at myself in the mirror and put on my Max Usher armor.

This is who they came to see. And by God, I’m not going to let them down.

“There you are!” Sienna says the second I make it downstairs, pushing her way through the crowd toward me. “I thought you’d never show up.”

“Am I late?” I ask, looking at my watch.

“Just a few minutes. But hey, that’s to be expected. Also, look who showed up.” She reaches behind her and grabs hold of someone’s arm.

My stupid heart leaps, thinking it might be Milo, but it isn’t. It’s Jalen.

“Don’t you look happy to see me,” he teases before pulling me into a hug.

Over his shoulder, I catch Sienna winking at me. I silently tell her to knock it off before pulling away from the hug.

“It’s so good to see you. I didn’t even know you were in town.”