Simon Says Die

the truth when I left you all those months ago. You were fun, a lot of fun, especially in bed. I got what I wanted, and it was time to move on. I didn’t want to be tied to one person. Just because I didn’t find anyone else I was interested in dating since then doesn’t mean it was a lie.”
    He jerked back as if she’d struck him. His eyes searched hers. He looked down at her hands, as if expecting her to move them. Pain streaked across his face. “So I’m just a good lay?”
    She grimaced. “That’s a crude way to put it, but yeah. We were great in bed, but that’s pretty much it.”
    He stared at her for a long time. Then he let her go, turned around and stood at the window looking out on the street.
    Unshed tears clogged her throat. She headed back into her bedroom and closed the connecting door.
    Five minutes later, she stepped into the hallway, armed with the two guns she’d retrieved from her house before going to the bank.
    T HE HOUSE ON East Gaston Street was dark, and Madison wasn’t sure where Damon would be. Was he watching her now? Had he seen her creep down the street from around the corner? She was wearing the darkest clothes she had—dark jeans, a dark blue button-up blouse. Brown leather boat shoes weren’t her fashion choice, but her white sneakers would have flashed in the meager light from the street lamps.
    Concealed across the street behind some tall shrubs, she watched the front windows of her house. After half an hour, her patience was rewarded. A shadow, slightly darker than the rest, paused in front of the picture window in the family room. The gauzy curtains opened a few inches as the person behind them looked outside.
    Remaining as still as she could, barely breathing, so she wouldn’t give herself away, she waited. Finally, the curtains closed, and she let out a shaky breath. She gathered her courage and steeled herself for the meeting that was about to come.
    P IERCE DIDN’T KNOW how long he stood in his room, thinking about Madison, and kicking himself for being so pathetic as to offer his ring, his name, and his heart all so she could turn him down.
    Again.
    The bright numbers on the clock by the bed told him how late it was. Usually, he’d be asleep by now, but he doubted he’d be able to get any sleep tonight. He listened for the sounds from the other room that would tell him Madison had gone to bed, but all he heard was silence.
    Silence? Madison wasn’t the quiet type. Everything she did, she did with gusto. She wasn’t the kind to tiptoe around a room. And when she slept, she snored. He should hear her, but instead, he heard . . . nothing.
    As if she weren’t even there.
    A sinking feeling in his gut had him rushing across the room and throwing open the door to her bedroom. It only took a moment for him to realize the room was empty.
    Madison was gone.
    He grabbed his 9mm and shoved it in the holster he still hadn’t removed. He threw his shoes on and rushed downstairs. The TV was blaring in the family room, but the innkeeper, Mr. Varley, wasn’t in his usual spot in his favorite recliner. Pierce checked the kitchen next, softly calling out Madison’s name. She wasn’t there.
    Where else could she be? He headed out the front door and ran to his car parked at the end of the block. As he hopped into his car, he tried calling Madison’s cell phone. But after calling twice without an answer, he punched another number into the phone.
    â€œSomeone had better be dying for you to call me at this hour,” the sleepy feminine voice grumbled on the other end of the phone.
    â€œI need a trace on a cell phone.”
    â€œNice to talk to you too.”
    â€œTess—”
    â€œYeah, yeah. I’m sure you’ll explain later. Give me a second to log into work.” A moment later she said, “What’s the number?”
    He rattled off Madison’s cell phone number and started the engine, waiting impatiently as he listened to Tessa typing on her keyboard.
    â€œTes—”
    â€œHold on. I’ve got it, Mr. Impatient. The phone is stationary. Looks like it’s on Abercorn, near the intersection with East Taylor.”
    â€œCalhoun Square. Thanks Tessa. I owe you.”
    M ADISON KNEW SHE was a coward. Pierce deserved to hear the truth from her, that she loved him. But she’d rather hurt him with a lie of omission than risk his life by