“Drop it, Polland.”
“You put it down.”
I wince, the blade pressing harder against my throat. Lifting my leg, I slam my heel down into his foot and throw myself forward. The blade bites into my neck, but I get free of his hold and turn around, kicking him in the groin with my other foot.
Then, Dean’s there, pulling me to my feet and slamming me against his hard chest. I hear scuffling behind me and turn to see Polland facedown in the sand, the sheriff cuffing him.
“Are you okay?” Dean asks, tipping my head side to side and looking me over. “Shit, the motherfucker cut you.”
“I’m fine. Dean, you—”
“Are you okay?” My dad comes toward me, pulling me from Dean and into his arms.
“I’m fine.”
“She’s bleeding,” Judson tells him.
“Let’s get up to the house.” My dad releases me, and Dean wraps an arm around me, pulling me into his body as we walk up the path and toward the center of camp. The light posts shine just ahead, casting an orange light over everything.
Amber and Keith rush over, Megan trailing behind them. “Oh my God, what happened?” she asks as she heads for me. When she gets a look at Polland in cuffs, her eyes widen. “What happened? Why is he—”
“Polland attacked Kleo.” Judson’s voice is tight as he glares back, and I know my brother wishes he’d gotten a piece out of him.
Megan pales. “He did what? Why?”
“Because that fucking bitch took everything from me!” Polland roars.
“What’s he talking about?” Megan looks at me for answers I don’t have.
“He blames her for Laura moving away.”
“You were always a shit second,” Polland growls at Megan. She walks over to him, tears in her eyes, and slaps him. The resounding crack is as satisfying as it is heartbreaking because I know Megan’s perfect world was just broken.
Judson wraps an arm around her and pulls her against him as Sheriff Fawns leads Polland away.
Everything feels so surreal, as if I’m walking in some crazy-ass dream, not really present. The ambulance pulls into the camp, and paramedics jump out, rushing toward me. “I’m fine.”
“You’re hurt,” Dean says. “I need to go talk to the police. I’ll be right back.”
I nod as the paramedics guide me toward the open ambulance, ordering me to take a seat. Judson stands beside me, a guard, as they check the cut on my neck. I can’t focus on anything or anyone except Dean.
Face tight with fury, he nods and speaks, too far away from me to hear what he’s saying.
“You scared the shit out of him.”
I look up at Judson.
“Out of all of us.”
“I’m sorry.”
Judson shakes his head. “It’s not your fault. We love you, Kleo. All of us.”
“I love you, too.” I shiver despite the warmth and wrap both arms around myself.
“Here you go, honey.” One of the paramedics drops a blanket over my shoulders, and I wrap it around myself. “The adrenaline is going to start wearing off soon, so you may feel really cold.”
“Thanks.”
Sheriff Fawns heads toward us, and Judson steps away. “I’m going to go talk to Dad.”
She offers Judson a small smile before stopping in front of me. “Kleo, we need to get a statement from you. Do you feel up to answering some questions?”
35
Dean
Polland—a man who was my best friend—fucking attacked Kleo.
Someone I trusted, have known for nearly my entire life. How does this happen? How does one lose themselves so completely that they are willing to harm someone else? And over Laura? I know how much he cared for her in high school. Shit, I was the one who he vented to when she left.
But that was years ago. Why the hell lash out now?
The whiskey in my glass is doing little to dull the ache from his betrayal or the guilt of what nearly happened to Kleo. I know it wasn’t my fault, but I can’t help but wonder if I missed something because of how close Polland and I were. I trusted him, and that trust could have led me to ignore warning signs I otherwise wouldn’t have missed.
The slider behind me opens, but I don’t look up.
“Mind if I join you?” Al asks.
“Have at it.”
He takes a seat in the chair beside me. “You doing okay?”
“No.” I don’t see a point in lying. I feel like fucking shit, and I’m sure it shows.
“You got to her,” he says. “She’s safe, Polland is headed to jail. Everything is fine.”
“I should have known it was him.”
“You’re smarter than that, Dean.”
“He and Laura were close.”
“Years ago,” Al says. “And he was engaged to another woman. There is no way you could have known what was happening.” He leans over so I can see his face. “I know that feeling, Dean. I’ve carried the guilt of what happened to Kleo on my shoulders for the past two years, and I’m going to be completely upfront with you—it will eat you alive if you let it. It will drive a wedge between the two of you if she feels at all like you blame her. Trust me, I know from personal experience and two years of being miserable. All that matters is that she’s safe.”
“I can’t help but wonder if I missed something. Maybe if I’d told you guys about…”
He stands and pats my shoulder. “Judson is headed home, but I’m leaving the security team for the night. You all need some good sleep.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. And Dean?”
I look up at him.
“If you look for logic here, you won’t find any. Don’t let it tear you up.”
He leaves the porch, stepping back into the house. I stare out over the water illuminated by the moonlight and down the rest of my drink. The next time the door opens, it’s Kleo. She steps out onto the porch and sits in the rocker her dad left only a few minutes ago.
She doesn’t say anything, doesn’t look at me, so I reach over and hold my hand out. She takes it, threading her fingers through mine, so I close my eyes and lean my head back.
“Are you okay?” Her voice is barely above a whisper. Opening my eyes, I stare into hers.
“Am I okay? How’s your neck?”
Reaching up with her free hand, she touches the gauze gently. “Fine. I didn’t need stitches.”
“Shit.” My throat tightens. “He could have killed you.”
“He didn’t.”
I get out of my chair and walk over to her, kneeling at her feet. Leaning into her, I wrap my arms around her waist as she rests her head on the top of mine. “I was so terrified, Kleo. I don’t think I’ve ever been that fucking scared.”
“I’m okay, Dean. I promise.”
I slip my arm beneath her knees, the other behind her back, and stand, sitting down in her seat, her in my lap. I hold onto her as though she might slip away because tonight, she came really fucking close to doing just that.
Shutting my eyes, I lean my cheek on the top of her head. “I love you, Kleo.”