“Why’d you have to fall for this tramp instead?!”
Anne suddenly grabbed the rope I was dangling from and shrieked, “What am I to you?!”
I don’t often use the word “mindblown” to describe a situation, but…
Linda was Anne’s half–sister!
No wonder their eyes were carbon copies.
No wonder Brad could accept her as a stand–in, despite her looks.
I had to admire Brad’s deep love for Linda.
But….
What did any of this have to do with me?!
Shaking like a leaf, I said, “Uh, Anne, honey, maybe we could calm down a bit? Good men might be hard to find, but they’re not extinct.”
Chapter 9
+25 BONUS
“I’ve got some cash saved up. How about you let me go, and we can go party together?”
I kept my voice low, hoping Brad wouldn’t hear.
Anne ignored me and held the knife over the rope, glaring at Brad. “These two – one lives, one dies! Let’s see who really owns your heart!”
It’ll be Linda, for sure. Why would he care if I live or die?
I’m toast.
I should’ve ran away when I had the chance!
The wind whipped my hair across my face as I glanced down, swallowing hard.
Brad stood about ten yards away, looking like he’d seen a ghost.
He tried to keep Anne calm with meaningless chatter while inching closer.
But Anne wasn’t born yesterday.
“Freeze!” she barked. “Ten seconds to say her name!”
Brad stopped dead in his tracks.
“Ten”
“Nine.”
Anne started the countdown.
Linda suddenly wailed, “Brad, help me! I’m terrified!”
“Six.”
“Five.”
Unlike Linda, I gazed at the endless ocean behind me.
Suddenly, I smiled at Brad. “Master, thanks for everything these past couple years. I loved it all.”
“Pick her!”
Tears “I’ll be okay!”
led down my c
Brad looked like he was about to fall apart, swaying in the wind like a reed.
I had never seen Brad look so panicked before, like someone terrified of losing their most precious treasure.
