Shutting the door fast, I spun on my heel, facing Wayne. “Shoot me, then.”
“You’ve always liked to make things hard on yourself, haven’t you?” he snarled. “All of this is your fault.”
“Oh yes, I forced you to treat me the way you did.” I shook my head. “You were always a horrible man. I was too blind to see it until it was too late.”
“I’m taking my son, and we’re leaving.”
“No, you’re not.” I laughed at his insane thoughts. “You’re not going anywhere but jail, no matter what. Whether you shoot me or not. You didn’t think this through very well, Wayne. You may have fooled everyone back in BC, but the people here all know who and what you are. You will never get to Theo, even if you do shoot me.” I shrugged, feigning a nonchalance I wasn’t feeling, knowing it would anger him. “I doubt you’re man enough to do that anyway.”
Something, some slight movement behind Wayne, caught my attention.
Someone else was in the barn. I wasn’t alone.
I returned my stare to his face, not letting him know I had noticed anything.
I felt another layer of fear hit me as I met his gaze. Even in the dim light, I noticed how different his eyes looked. Black. Soulless. Crazy. He was glowering, furious and malicious at my words.
I had never talked back to him, and he didn’t like it. But I needed his attention focused on me—nowhere else.
“Why are you doing this? You didn’t want me. You didn’t want us.”
His hatred was evident when he spoke. “You left me. Ran away. Humiliated me in front of people who respected me. Made them doubt me. Now you’re going to come back and apologize. Tell them you were wrong. Show me how wrong you were.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I would rather die than go anywhere with you.”
“I can arrange that. I’m going to be a father to my kid.”
“You couldn’t be a father to Theo if you tried,” I mocked, seeing the shadow behind him creeping closer, silent and deadly.
“You never knew when to keep your mouth shut. You always were stupid.”
“I would disagree with you, but then again, I let you into my life.”
“Open the damn door and get my son.”
“No. Go ahead and shoot me. But you’re not getting him. Ever. You’ll be in jail for murder, and he’ll be raised by the people outside this barn. Brought up to be a good man—loving and caring. Kind. Nothing like you,” I added, goading him. “I am never going with you, and neither is Theo.”
Behind him, there was more movement. Slow, hidden in the shadows, but someone was there.
“No one else is raising my son.”
I crossed my arms, tapping my foot. He used to hate that. I did it to distract him.
“You never have and never will raise my son. And just so you know, asshole? You didn’t break me. You thought you did. I let you think you did. But I got away and made a life for myself. For us. A good one, surrounded by amazing people. You’re nothing but a bully and a liar. Anyone who didn’t see it before will see it now. So, go ahead and shoot me. I. Still. Win.”
The gun rose, but his hand was shaky. Blood seeped from the cut on his head I’d given him with the flashlight. He wasn’t quite steady on his feet. He was sweating and not completely in control.
“You bitch,” he seethed.
It came out of nowhere. A piece of wood was swung through the air, hitting Wayne’s head with a low thud. His expression changed from rage to confusion and pain, his eyes rolled back in his head, and he dropped. Lifeless and still, he lay on the ground, the gun kicked away. I lifted my eyes and met Stefano’s tortured gaze.
“Jesus, Tesoro, why are you always trying to get yourself killed?”
Then I was in his arms. Wrapped in safety. In love.
“It’s over,” he murmured. “It’s all over.”
I burrowed into his warmth, knowing he was right.
I was finally done running.
The next few moments were a flurry of activity. Stefano called for Brett, who came in, looking around in horror.
“Tie him up. Call the police. Tell them no sirens. I don’t want to scare Theo.”
“Where is he?” I asked, my voice shaky. “Where is Theo?”
“Inside with Kelly. She told him you’d seen a mouse and screamed but you were fine.”
Chase came into the barn, carrying a coil of rope. “I’ll help.” He met my eyes. “Gabby, you okay?”
I nodded, trying desperately to stop the shivers racing through my body.
“Why did you goad him?” Stefano groaned into my hair, his arms still locked around me.
“I knew it would distract him, make him angry, and he would focus on me, not whoever was sneaking up behind him.” I shuddered. “How did you get in here?”