Start a War (Saint View Psychos #1)(17)

Caleb pulled out into the flow of traffic, and I followed, not bothering to leave a gap, because he had no idea who I was. I trailed him closely through the streets of Providence, only dropping back when I found myself in Saint View. The last rays of the setting sun disappeared into darkness, and the intermittent streetlamps did little to light the night around me.

I didn’t mind that. I liked the darkness.

Ahead, Caleb picked up the pace until he was ten miles over the speed limit.

“Where are you going in such a rush, Caleb with an eight instead of a B? Off to abuse some more women?”

I didn’t want to draw more attention to myself than necessary, but I needed information, and I wasn’t going to get that by losing him now. I put my foot down on the accelerator.

A tiny flash of white up ahead had both me and Caleb slamming on the brakes. His car screeched over the blacktop, his wheels locking up as his slid along the road. But it was too little, too late, his reflexes too slow to avoid the collision.

I sucked in a breath when a tiny white body hit the front of his car and went skittering across the road, coming to a stop as it hit the gutter.

Caleb’s door opened. He put one foot down on the road and leaned on his doorframe. “Fucking bastard cunt dog!” he shouted, staring over at the unmoving mass. “What did you do that for?”

My fingers tightened on the steering wheel, forcing me to stay seated.

Caleb got back in his car, and it lurched off into the darkness once more.

I let him go. The chase was over. My evening now had a different mission.

I pulled my car to the side of the road and got out, walking quietly to the little white dog Caleb had hit. It was probably some kid’s pet. I’d check the tags and take him home so they could have closure.

A yelp of pain cut through my entire being. I lurched into a jog and stared down at the creature.

Big brown eyes stared up at me, and a tiny bark escaped through a bloodied mouth.

I squatted beside her, looking the dog over and noting that she was actually female. “You’re still alive, but Caleb just left you to suffer on the side of the road.” I shook my head. “And they call me a psychopath.”

The barks turned into whimpers as I put my hand to her black nose and let her sniff me. “How about we make a deal, little dog? I’ll pick you up and get you some help, but you promise not to bite me. Blink if you agree to the terms of this arrangement.”

She blinked. Several times.

“Very well.”

I gently slipped my hands beneath her battered and broken body and carried the animal to my car. I placed her gingerly on the passenger seat before running around to my side and getting behind the wheel.

She looked up at me silently, putting her full trust in me.

“That’s probably foolish, Little Dog. I’m the bad guy, don’t you know?”





7





BLISS





I wasn’t sure whether Caleb’s flowers were an apology for getting drunk, hitting me, or forcing himself on me. He’d taken me by complete surprise with the huge bouquet, and I’d responded badly.

I should have just said thank you and accepted them with a smile.

Instead, my entire body had locked up at the sight of him, a terrified tremble picking up in my limbs that hadn’t stopped until he’d driven away.

I let myself inside Caleb’s place, carrying the flowers toward the kitchen so I could get a vase.

I only made it as far as the living room.

“Oh my God.” I dropped the flowers at my feet as I took in the normally spotless room.

It was like a florist had exploded inside. Rose petals were scattered everywhere, all over the floor and couch. A bottle of champagne sat chilling in an ice bucket, condensation droplets clinging to the sides. Two wine glasses sat propped beside it, along with a tray of chocolate-dipped strawberries.

But it was the small square box in the middle of the table that elicited a gasp from my throat. Numb from head to toe, I crossed the room and ran my fingers over the blue-and-gold embossing.

I glanced back to the front door, as if Caleb might burst in at any minute, pluck the box from my fingers, and drop down on one knee in front of me.

Like he’d clearly been planning to do.

Before I’d gone and ruined it all.

You ruin everything, Bliss. Everything.

Once upon a time, that had been my mother’s voice in my head. But somewhere over the years, it had become my own. She was right. I did ruin everything.

I lifted the lid on the box and stared down at the huge diamond, set on a band of shining gold. It was the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen. Even more stunning than the one that had been up for auction last night.

Last night.

How had that only been a day ago? It felt like a lifetime.

I could fix this. I had to. This was what I’d been hoping to happen for months. My father would be thrilled. It couldn’t be all over. Caleb would come back. We’d talk, and kiss, and this would all go away. I’d make it up to him in the way he liked best.

I plucked the ring from its cushioned bed of silk and pushed it onto the fourth finger on my left hand.

It was slightly too small, pinching at my skin, but I ignored it. “Yes,” I whispered to the empty room. “Come home, Caleb, so I can say yes.”