Chapter 235

I grimaced at the thought, but said nothing. Jake’s eyes flashed dangerously as he continued. “I was so close, too. Just a month until the wedding. And it would have worked perfectly if you hadn’t stuck your nose where it didn’t belong. You and your little schemes to figure me out. And now Amber has dumped me, and I’m left with nothing.”

“That’s your own damn fault,” I hissed.

This time, Jake was the one who hit me—right in the side of my face. I saw a flash of light and felt a burning sensation on my cheek, followed by the impact of the hard rocks as I fell. Joseph’s calloused hands righted me just as quickly.

“Hit me all you want,” I said, spitting out blood and saliva, “but you know it’s the truth.”

Jake growled menacingly. In a strange way, I almost hoped he would kill me and be done with it. I had died once before; I could do it again. Maybe this was why the Moon Goddess had brought me back: to give me a chance to save my friend. If I would die again for that, then so be it.

But he didn’t kill me. Instead, he crouched before me, his hand rising to touch my chin. I recoiled, but had nowhere to go, so I let him turn my head to look at him.

“What do you want from me?” I whispered.

Jake’s lips curved into a cruel smile. “If I can’t get Amber’s money,” he whispered, “then I’ll just have to take yours.”

My mind scrambled to understand. Then, it hit me: “A ransom,” I muttered.

“Smart girl.” Jake rose and dusted himself off.

“You won’t get it,” I said, swallowing. “No one would…”

“Oh, don’t be so miserable,” Jake interrupted. “As if your precious husband wouldn’t give everything he owns to get you back.”

I raised a disbelieving eyebrow, and he chuckled. “Amber told me everything about you two, you know. Everything. That idiot still loves you. Of course, he’ll pay whatever’s necessary.”

I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to believe him, but at the same time, I couldn’t bring myself to believe Noah would pay a ransom for me. Maybe if I were Zoe instead… But a larger part of me knew I had to try. If not for myself, then for my baby.

“Very well,” I said, leaning back on my heels. “You can try to get Noah’s money. Just let me go home whenever you get what you want.”

Jake’s laughter echoed off the rocks. “Oh, Hannah. You’re not going home. Did you really think it would be that easy?”

The finality in his voice chilled me, but before I could ask what he meant, he continued. “I can’t risk you coming after me. So, you’ll take a little swim over this waterfall the moment Noah wires that money to me.”

“By the time your body washes up somewhere far downstream,” Jake took another step forward and lowered himself to me again, his voice even more menacing than before, “I’ll be long gone.”

The situation’s finality hit me. My blood ran cold, my chest tightening until I was certain my heart would explode.

But before I could process it, Jake took a burner phone from one of his cohorts and dialed a number. “You’re going to follow our script,” he said as another goon produced an index card and held it up before me. He crouched in front of me, pressing the ringing phone to my ear. “And if you stray from our script,” he whispered, “then your friends back at the cabin will get hurt—not just you.”