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home, back to the place where my fears were born.
     

Chapter Nine
     
     
    Over breakfast in bed on Saturday morning, Miles gave Owen a call and put the conversation on speaker.
    As I had expected, Owen denied everything. He threw a few curses over the phone for both Miles and me. Then he told us to fuck off by dropping the phone. 
    “Great,” Miles said angrily, and tried to call him again. The call went to voicemail. 
    We finished the rest of our breakfast in uncomfortable silence. Miles didn't have to say a word as he finished his eggs Benedict and then got ready to go to his meeting with the Vendet Group in the hotel conference room. It was obvious he was angry with me for driving a wedge between him and Owen.
    “The meeting should be two hours at the most.” He fastened his cufflinks. “I think it's best we return home once I'm done.”
    I nodded, my heart crashing. The romantic weekend had been canceled without my consent. 
    In a way I felt guilty for accusing Owen. I had known him for a year and he had made threats before that had amounted to nothing. When Miles mentioned the piece of bloodied lace to him, he had been furious. 
    Even though the knot was still tight in the pit of my stomach, I had to make things right with Miles. We would be getting married in a few weeks. This was not the time for us to be fighting. We should be excited about our wedding.
    I went to help him with his tie. “Good luck with the Vendet Group.” I kissed him. “I'll come home with you, but I'll only be passing through to get my car and some more clothes. There's someplace I need to go for a few days.” 
    “Going on a wedding shopping spree?”
    I smiled bitterly. “No, I already have everything I need. You and Owen still need to go for a last fitting, though.”
    “I'll do that first thing on Monday. So, where are you going?”
    “Home...to Misty Cove.”
    Miles cocked an eyebrow. “That's a surprise. I thought you never wanted to go back there.”
    “I know. But it's time. There are some things I need to take care of.”
    “I guess it's not a bad idea for you to get away from whoever is sending you those cards. I still think you should go to the cops, though.”
    “I'll go to the cops if I get another card.”
    “Good.” He kissed the side of my neck. “I'll come with you if you do go.”
     

Chapter Ten
     
     
    The sun was setting when I arrived in Misty Cove. Holding my breath, I turned onto Broadridge Road, the one road leading to my childhood home from out of town. If there were any way I could avoid it, I would have. But I had no choice but to drive right through. If only I could close my eyes and drive blindly until I reached my destination.
    Five minutes into my drive along the road, it started to drizzle. As soon as I turned on the wipers, the drizzle turned to gushing rain, the drops lashing against my windshield and roof. The sheet of water obscured the road, making it hard for me to see where I was going.
    Had I been superstitious, I would've thought something was trying to stop me from coming home. If I could still call Misty Cove that. After a few minutes of trying to make my way through the storm, careful not to veer off the road, I slowed down and pulled off, parking on the shoulder. I’d wait it out until the rain subsided or I’d end up in a ditch somewhere.
    Through the sound of the rain hitting glass and metal, the pounding of my heart still made itself heard, loud and clear. I wished I were anyplace but here. 
    To distract myself, I turned on the radio and cranked up the volume. Classical music poured into the car, drowning my thoughts. I closed my eyes and tried not to think, telling myself that even though I felt like the old me, chubby Kelly was gone, and I was Chloe, the beautiful, successful businesswoman. But the little voice inside my head told me I'd always be Kelly, the desperate girl who had done everything she could to fit in.
    My phone rang and I picked up on the fourth