Simon Says Die

matter of time.”
    Shaking off his hands, she paced across the room again. She wrapped her arms around her waist and faced him. “Can you promise me, swear to me, that you’re one-hundred-percent positive you’ll be able to get enough evidence together to put him away? Can you swear to me that he’ll pay for killing my father? That he won’t be able to hurt my family, or you?” Her voice broke on the last word.
    â€œYou know I can’t swear to that. Do I believe I can find the evidence I need to put him away? Yes. Absolutely. Am I positive? Would I bet my life on it?” He shook his head. “No. But, I swear I’ll do my best, and I’ll keep you safe.”
    â€œWhat about my mom and her husband? Amanda? Logan? What about you ? How will you keep all of them safe if Damon is free?”
    He frowned. “I’ve never seen you this nervous. What’s really going on?”
    She closed her eyes tightly but a tear still slipped down her cheek. She almost never cried, but in the past twenty-four hours she couldn’t seem to help herself. She was so scared, so worried about her family, about Pierce.
    â€œAh, sweetie. Don’t cry.” He dragged her against him and held her close.
    She clung to him, willing her tears to stop as she breathed in the comforting scent of his aftershave, and allowed his welcome heat to seep into her. She loved him. The thought came to her with a startling clarity. Through all the months, all the doubts, all the worry that she couldn’t trust her own feelings . . . she suddenly realized her doubts were gone.
    She not only loved him, she knew, beyond any doubt, she would always love him. This wasn’t a bright flash of love like she’d had for Damon when they’d first met. Her feelings for Pierce were totally different.
    But it was too late for her epiphany. Pierce might believe he could keep her family, and himself, safe from Damon. But Madison couldn’t bear to risk anyone she loved on the off chance that Damon might hurt them. She had to make sure he could never hurt anyone she loved ever again.
    Tonight she would offer him a trade. One million dollars for his confession, a confession she would record. She couldn’t let him go free. This time she had to protect everyone she loved.
    Looking up at Pierce, for the first time she allowed all her love to shine in her eyes. She reached her hand up and cupped his face.
    His brows wrinkled in confusion. “Mads? What—”
    â€œLove me,” she whispered. “Please.”
    Surprise flickered across his face. He started to step back, but Madison grabbed his arms.
    â€œPierce, love me.”
    He stopped and his gaze fell to her lips. “No. Not again. I’m not a ‘friends with benefits’ kind of guy. I want it all, Mads. All, or nothing.” He stared down at her for several minutes, as if weighing an important decision. Then he reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a ring. He held it up in front of her.
    Madison stared at the pear-shaped diamond solitaire, but she didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. Her heart was already breaking. Again.
    â€œThis is yours, if you want it,” he said. “If you want me . I love you. I have from the first sarcastic comment that came out of your mouth. I bought this ring a long time ago, for the woman I loved. I was going to propose. But you left.”
    Misery choked the words from her throat. She couldn’t agree to marry him, no matter how much she wanted to, not when she was about to go face Damon . . . or Simon . . . and might very well not come back. She knew the odds weren’t good, that she could be killed. She couldn’t tell Pierce, and have him go with her, because Damon had already told her what would happen if she didn’t come alone.
    He’d kill her family. He’d kill Pierce.
    She couldn’t agree to marry Pierce and then leave him, not like this. But more than that, she knew if she said yes, that he wouldn’t let her go. She’d be expected to be happy, to celebrate with him. There would be nothing she could say to him that would allow her to sneak out of the bed-and-breakfast to meet up with Damon.
    There was no way she could say yes. She had to hurt him, again. And she knew, this time, there was no going back. He couldn’t take that kind of abuse from her twice, and give her a third chance.
    Hot tears streamed