TO DIE FOR (Eva Rae Thomas Mystery Book 8)

by Willow Rose

  Matt stared at me, not blinking.

  “So…you’re calling off the wedding?”

  I exhaled, feeling good about my decision for once.

  “I guess that’s what I am saying.”

  A strange scoff left Matt’s mouth, and he shook his head at me. He rose to his feet and walked past me, mumbling.

  “I can’t believe you.”

  Then, he left, slamming the front door behind him so hard my dad woke up and came out to me, rubbing his unshaven face, squinting his eyes at me.

  “Eva Rae? What’s going on? Why are you sitting here? What happened to your arm, sweetie? Are you okay?

  I looked up at him, then nodded. “You know what? I think I am. I think I have finally taken control of my own life. It’s a mess and chaotic at times—well, most of the time. But it’s the way I like it. I don’t do normal.”

  That made my dad smile. He placed a hand on my shoulder while nodding.

  “Good for you, sweetie. Good for you.”

  He waited for a few seconds, then added, “Do you want a beer or something?”

  I laughed, then shook my head.

  “No. I need to sleep. There are only a few hours till the two little monsters will wake up. But thanks.”

  Epilogue

  Chapter 75

  The sound of the Ring doorbell rang in the hall inside. I could see movement behind the frosted glass with the beautiful palm trees. The door was opened, and a face appeared.

  “Kim.”

  “Eva Rae? What are you doing here?” Kim said and stepped outside, closing the door behind her while whispering, “You can’t be here.”

  “Yes, I can,” I said and stepped aside. “And I haven’t come alone.”

  Kim’s eyes fell on the two women behind me.

  “This is my sister, Sydney, and this is Mrs. Harris, from the Department for Children and Families.”

  Kim’s eyes grew big. “DCF? But…”

  “We’re here to talk to Amy.”

  “But…Amy is…”

  “Save it. We know she’s in there, and we know you’ve been keeping her away from her child.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I looked at my minivan, knowing that inside of it sat Christine, keeping an eye on Owen until we came back out, hopefully with Amy.

  “We have done no such…”

  “Kim,” I said. “Let us in, please.”

  Her shoulders slumped, and she became resigned. “Okay. But make it brief. If Phil finds out you’ve…”

  We didn’t listen to the rest of that sentence but walked right past her into the massive hall.

  “Where is she?” I asked. “Upstairs?”

  Kim nodded. “In her room.”

  I rushed up the stairs, Sydney and Mrs. Harris coming up right behind me. We opened one door, and I called her name, but that was a bathroom. I grabbed the handle of the next door and shook it.

  “It’s locked.”

  I knocked.

  “Amy?”

  “Y-yes?” a small, thin voice said behind it. “Is anyone there? Is that you, Eva Rae? Please, help me.”

  My heart dropped as the realization sank in. “They’re keeping her locked up.”

  “This is serious,” Mrs. Harris said.

  “Please, help me,” Amy said.

  Mrs. Harris faced Kim. She spoke with a firm voice yet failed to hide how angry she really was.

  “Please, open the door, Mrs. Robinson.”

  Kim walked up and put the key in the door without protest. She turned it, and it opened. I pushed the door open. Amy threw herself into my arms. I grabbed her and held her tight, kissing her hair.

  “Oh, you poor thing. You poor, poor child.”

  She cried and held me tight like she didn’t want me ever to let go of her again. “Is he all right? How’s Owen?”

  I nodded, crying heavily. “He’s fine. He’s just fine.”

  Amy relaxed, but I didn’t let go of her. My heart was breaking for the girl.

  “I meant to come back,” she said, sobbing. “On the day I ran away, I came here to ask my mom to forgive me and for her help, but then my dad came home, and he…he grabbed me, then dragged me into my room and locked the door. I couldn’t get out. I couldn’t get back to Owen.”

  “I know, sweetie. I know. It’s okay.” I paused, then took a deep breath before I asked what had been on my mind for quite some time, “He’s the father, isn’t he? Your father? He’s Owen’s father, right?”

  Amy’s body jolted in sobs, and I held her so she wouldn’t fall to her knees. “Oh, my God,” she said. “Oh, my God.”

  “It’s okay, Amy. I’ve got you now. He can’t hurt you or Owen anymore.”

  “He was so angry,” she said between sobs. “When it turned out that I was pregnant, and my mother…she wouldn’t forgive me. That’s why I ran away. They wanted me to get rid of him, but how could I? They said my dad might end up in jail if anyone found out, and that made me feel guilty, but in the end, I had to protect my child.”

  I exchanged a look with Mrs. Harris, grabbed Amy by the shoulders, and looked into her eyes.

  “It’s not your fault, Amy. Do you hear me? He’s the one to blame. Everything is going to be all right. We’re taking you home now.”

  “But…where are you taking her?” Kim asked.

  “Sydney and I run a shelter for young women who have been trafficked. We have a team of doctors and psychiatrists that can help her get her life back together again. She’ll be taken care of there.”

  “But…but what am I supposed to tell Phil when he comes home?” Kim asked as we started walking down the stairs.

  I turned and looked at her. She seemed so lost; it was heartbreaking. But she had chosen her life, and now she had to live it. I didn’t feel sorry for her. Phil was going to jail for what he had done, and she would end up very lonely.

  “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

  Then, I turned away and put my arm around Amy, walking her out to her son in my car. When she saw him, her face lit up, and tears sprang to her eyes. She took him out of the carrier, then held him close.

  “Oh, my sweet boy. I am never letting go of you again. Do you hear me? Never. Nothing and no one will ever come between us again.”

  I placed a hand on her shoulder, fighting to press the tears back, but failing miserably.

  “It’s time. We need to go.”

  Chapter 76

  “You’re telling me you would sit here in your car and watch her? While she was in her house? No wonder she thought you were creepy and called the cops on you.”

  I looked at Scott, sitting next to me in my minivan. I had parked it across the street from Lily Mitchell’s house. He had called me the day before and asked me to help him out with one more favor—just this one favor. Once he had explained to me what it was, I couldn’t say no to him.

  “There she is,” he said and pointed. “Look at her; isn’t she gorgeous?”

  I exhaled and nodded, then placed a hand on his shoulder.

  “Let’s do this.”

  He took in a deep, nervous breath, and I got out of the car. I walked toward Lily, who was hurrying to her car in the driveway while searching her purse for her keys.

  “Excuse me? Lily?”

  She stopped. Her green eyes landed on me. “Yes? Can I help you?”

  I glanced briefly toward Scott in the car across the street, and she saw me do it, then went pale.

  “No, no, it’s him again.”

  I reached out my hand. “It’s okay, Lily.”

  “No, it’s not. He’s been stalking me, and he’s a creep. I have a restraining order out on him. He’s got some nerve showing up like this again.”

  “Lily, listen to me…”

  She pulled out her phone from her purse. “I’m calling the police.”

  I placed a hand on her arm to stop her, then looked her deep in the eyes. “Lily, you need to listen to me. You’ll want to, okay?”

  She lowe
red the phone, her eyes scrutinizing me. “Why should I trust you? You’re with him, aren’t you?”

  “Just hear me out,” I said. “Then you can call the cops afterward, okay?”

  She contemplated for a second, then nodded. “All right. I’ll hear what you have to say.”

  I breathed, relieved, then pointed toward Scott. “That guy over there has been stalking you; you’re right about that.”

  She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Okay, and?”

  “And you’re right that he has been acting very creepy toward you…”

  “So, now that we’ve stated the obvious, I’m still waiting for the good part…”

  I grabbed her shoulders. “Lily. That man over there has a very special reason for wanting to see you. He’s been trying to find the courage to approach you and tell you something very important.”

  Lily’s eyes looked like they didn’t believe me at first, then eased up. A furrow grew between her brows.

  “Tell me something? Like what?”

  I exhaled. “He’s…Lily…he’s your father.”

  She pulled back. “Excuse me?”

  I bit my lip, then nodded. “He only just recently found out himself. That’s why he has been following you. He was trying to find a way to tell you. He wants to talk to you and tell you more himself, but…well, he can’t as long as you’re scared of him.”

  She swallowed. I saw tears well up in her eyes as she looked at Scott, who had stepped out of the car and stood in the street, staring at us.

  “Are you telling me that…that…that man…the creep is my father?”

  I nodded. “Yes. He didn’t know he had a daughter until six months ago when his old girlfriend—your mother—died and her mother—your grandmother—contacted him to let him know. All he wants is to get to know you. Do you think you can find room for him in your heart?”

  Lily stared at Scott, and in that second, I could suddenly see just how much the two of them looked alike. It was uncanny. The angled nose, the green eyes, and even the small furrow between the eyes when they were worried or confused.

  Lily took a step closer to him, narrowing her eyes, studying Scott. Scott remained still, but I could see his hands were shaking badly as she approached him slowly. She stood close to him, studying him from top to bottom with a skeptical look. Scott smiled nervously.

  “You’re…supposed to be my dad?”

  He nodded.

  “Do you have any proof of that?”

  He shrugged. “We can do a DNA test if you like. If that’ll make you feel better.”

  She paused. “Maybe. You sure are handsome enough for my mother to fall for you.”

  That made Scott smile. Tears were springing to his eyes, and his torso was shaking.

  “Okay,” Lily said, nodding. “I will trust you for now. But we’re doing that test just in case.”

  “So…can I see you sometime?”

  She looked at him. “You can take me to lunch next week. Then I’ll have called the police and retracted the restraining order.”

  Scott eased up. His shoulders came down, and now he was smiling blissfully like only a father gazing upon his daughter could look. She gave him another glance, then turned on her high-heeled Doc Martin boots, and walked past me, yelling after him, “But you’re paying; don’t forget that.”

  “I won’t!” he yelled back.

  “And bring the big checkbook because I want lobster!”

  That made Scott laugh.

  “That’s my daughter,” he said, tears in his eyes as she drove away. I hugged him and held him tight.

  “No doubt about it,” I said.

  I pulled out of the hug, and Scott grabbed my face between his hands. “Thank you so much for all you have done for me.”

  I blushed. Being this close to him again made my stomach flutter.

  “No problem. What are friends for, right?”

  He looked into my eyes, and I felt myself go soft.

  “I’d say we’re a little more than that, wouldn’t you?” he said.

  I scoffed. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

  He tilted his head and leaned in for a kiss. Seeing this, I felt a huge desire to lean into it too, but I stopped myself.

  “No, Scott,” I whispered. “We can’t do this.”

  “Why not? You and Matt have split up. Sarah and I are over. I’ll be moving out soon. I realized I’m still in love with you.”

  That was a little too much for me, and I pulled away. “What are you talking about, Scott?”

  “I’m crazy about you, Eva Rae. I always was.”

  “I don’t know what to say to that.”

  “Tell me you’re crazy about me too,” Scott said, grabbing my chin and pulling it up.

  I shook my head. “I…I don’t know, Scott.”

  “At least let me see you again.”

  I shook my head and took a step away from him. “Not now. I need time to think. I rushed into things with Matt right after my marriage ended. I never really sat down and thought about what I wanted. There’s a lot I need to figure out, but right now, I just want to be there for my family, for my children.”

  He nodded, eyes disappointed. “Okay. But call me when you’re done thinking.”

  “We’ll see. I need to go now. Angel will wake up from her nap soon. Do you need to be dropped off somewhere?”

  He shook his head, then looked down, putting his hands in his pockets.

  “I’ll grab an Uber home. You go ahead.”

  I left him standing there on the asphalt, looking after me as I got into my car while he waited for his ride. Our eyes locked as I drove past him, standing there, looking like a child who had just lost his toy.

  I felt good about my decision as I drove up DeLeon Road toward my home. Alex and Olivia were goofing around outside on the lawn, spraying each other with the hose. Olivia grabbed Alex, lifted him in the air, and then stuck the hose into his pants until he screamed for mercy. Seeing them made me laugh, and I parked in the driveway while Alex ran up to me.

  “Mo-o-o-om, Olivia is bullying me.”

  I hugged my soaking son and held him in my arms, then kissed him until he complained and wanted to be put down.

  “He had it coming, you know,” Olivia said, still laughing.

  “I know,” I said while Alex ran back in.

  I put my arm around my oldest daughter’s shoulder as we walked back inside, realizing this was the best I had felt in years.

  THE END

  Afterword

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for purchasing To Die For (Eva Rae Thomas #8).

  The idea for this book actually came to me when I started therapy myself.

  I was going through some really rough things from my past that I needed help to deal with and found an amazing therapist, who is nothing like the one in this book, naturally. But it was while going through my sessions with her that I thought, what if a therapist let someone go too far?

  What if she herself wasn’t really all there? How wrong could it go?

  And then I let it go really, really wrong.

  That was fun.

  Now, I am still in therapy, and she has been helping me a lot, so this book is in no way a reflection of reality, but it was fun to write.

  Take care,

  Willow

  Hit The Road Jack (Jack Ryder Series Book 1)

  Excerpt

  For a special sneak peak of Willow Rose's Bestselling Mystery Novel Hit the road Jack turn to the next page.

  Prologue

  DON’T COME BACK NO MORE

  Prologue

  May 2012

  She has no idea who she is or where she is and cares to know neither. For some time, for what seems like forever, she has been in this daze. This haze, in complete darkness with nothing but the sounds. Sounds coming from outside her body, from outside her head. Sometimes, the sounds fade and there is only the darkness.

  As time passes, she becomes aware that there are tw
o realities. The one in her mind, filled with darkness and pain and then the one outside of her, where something or someone else is living, acting, smelling and…singing.

  Yes, that’s it. Someone is singing. Does she know the song?

  …What you say?

  The darkness is soon replaced by light. Still, her eyes are too heavy to open. Her consciousness returns slowly. Enough to start asking questions. Where is she? How did she end up here? A series of pictures of her at home come to her mind. She is waiting. What is she waiting for?

  …I guess if you said so.

  Him. She is waiting for him. She is checking her hair in the mirror every five minutes or so. Then correcting the make-up, looking at the clock again. Where is he? She looks out through the window and at the street and the many staring neighboring windows. A feeling of guilt hits her. Somehow, it seems wrong for this kind of thing to take place in broad daylight.

  …That’s right!

  A car drives up. The anticipation. The butterflies in her stomach. The sound of the doorbell. She is straightening her dress and taking a last glance in the mirror. The next second, she is in his embrace. He is holding her so tight she closes her eyes and breathes him in until his lips cover hers and she swims away.

  …Whoa, Woman, oh woman, don't treat me so mean.

  His breath is pumping against her skin. She feels his hands on her breasts, under her skirt, coming closer, while he presses her up against the wall. She feels him in his hand. He is hard now, moaning in her ear.

  “Where’s your husband?” he whispers.

  “Work,” she moans back, feeling self-conscious. Why did he have to bring up her husband? The guilt is killing her. “The kids are in school.”

  “Good,” he moans. “No one can ever know. Remember that. No one.”

  …You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen.