Bile rushed to the base of her throat as she choked out the insincere endearment. This couldn’t be all there was. This couldn’t be how shedied.
Please, God. Don’t let this be the end.
There was still so much left undone. Countless things she’d wanted to do with her life.
So many things left unsaid.
A face appeared in her frightened mind’s eye. Handsome. Smiling. A face that brought with it a sense of peace and safety unlike any other she’d ever known.
It was a ghost from her past, but one Scottie dreamed of often. Because that handsome, smiling face…it belonged to the only person to truly make Scottie’s heart feel whole. And now?—
The gun’s barrel pulled away from her temple.
“See?” Dustin taunted Mitch. “Told you she loved me. So why don’t you run along now and let us be?”
The lunatic was suddenly acting so casual. As if he were speaking to a used car salesman, rather than a former cop with a gun pointed at his heart.
“Is that really what you want, Scottie?” Mitch’s blue gaze turned her way.
Her expression turned incredulous as she met his stoic gaze. Did he seriously just ask if shewantedto leave with this deranged man?
Uh…hell no, that’s not what I?—
She spotted something in Mitch’s dark eyes. A glimmer so slight she almost missed it.
Her bodyguard was doing his damnedest to relay a message of his own, and Scottie prayed she hadn’t misunderstood.
Playing along with what she hoped like hell was the plan, she gave the man she’d entrusted with her life a shaky nod and lied.
“Y-Yes.” Scottie swallowed past the fear still consuming her body’s every cell. “That’s exactly what I want.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Mitch dipped his chin and began walking backward toward the door. Wait…he was leaving?
No!
Oh, God! Did she get it all wrong? Did Mitch really believe she wanted to be with the maniac holding her against her will…at freaking gunpoint? Surely he wouldn’t…
Mitch brought his stare to her once more, and it was only then that she realized his true intent. He wasn’t leaving her. Not really. He just needed Dustin tothinkhe was.
Play along, Scottie. Keep. Playing. Along.
“Th-Thank you,” Scottie offered softly as the retreating man reached the door leading to the hallway.
Her captor probably assumed she was thanking Mitch for leaving when, in reality, Scottie had just thanked him for whatever he was about to do next.
“No problem.” Mitch reached back and pushed the metal handle downward. Inching the door open, he slid his gaze to Dustin before bringing it back to her. “Have a wonderful life, Scottie,” her bodyguard wished her well.
A smile that appeared genuine lifted the corners of his lips.
“You, too, Mitch.” She gave the man her own watery smile in return.
A second later, Scottie watched in horror as her only means of protection disappeared out into the hall.
With her heart in her throat, she pulled upon every ounce of inner strength she had not to break down into a puddle of tears and sobs. Instead, she managed to stay in character while giving Dustin’s forearm a gentle pat.
“He’s gone, Dustin.” Her voice remained soft, her tone unthreatening. “Y-You can let me go now.”
Overwhelming relief blanketed her when he lifted his arm away from her neck.