Page 91 of Secrets in the Deep

She pinched his arm.

“Ow. What the hell was that for?”

“Being a pessimist. Only hopeful talk is allowed tonight. Now, shall we start brainstorming?”

21

Emily stepped out of Polly’s front door and jogged down the steps to the waiting Cadillac Escalade. If it was up to her, she’d still be in bed. She’d barely slept the last three nights, and it had everything to do with Ryan.

But no, she wasn’t in bed feeling sorry for herself. She was outside, freezing her ass off and heading to a work meeting.

She slipped into the back seat. “Hey.”

Faye twisted in her seat on the passenger side, a wide smile on her face. “Good morning, superstar. Brought you coffee.”

Emily groaned as she took the to-go cup. “You are my favorite person today.”

“Hey, I’m picking you up,” Preston grumbled.

“You can be my second favorite.”

She sipped the warm liquid, expecting perfect Bloom coffee to fill her belly.

It didn’t.

Argh. Whatwasthat? She coughed, almost spitting the stuff out. Too strong. Far too strong.

She read the cup—The Pancake Bar.

“I got you a double shot,” Faye called, turning back to face the front.

Preston grinned at her through the mirror as he pulled onto the street. “She thought you looked tired yesterday.”

Great. So everyone knew she wasn’t sleeping. “Lucky we’re not filming then.”

He scoffed. “I bet my entire career Roscoe’s called this meeting to tell us we’re resuming filming.”

“No.” Emily shook her head, because absolutely not. “The studio wouldn’t do that. Not until the person terrorizing us is caught.” She absently traced the wound on her abdomen. She hadn’t needed any pain medication this morning, and the cut was healing well. Didn’t make her feel any better about what had happened.

Faye turned her head again, guilt darkening her brown eyes. “How’s the cut?”

“It’s fine. It’s also not your fault.” Something she’d told the other woman a dozen times.

“I was holding the knife. I should have known it was real. I?—”

“The prop was weighted and felt real. And you had no reason to question anything.”

Faye swallowed and nodded before turning back to the front.

“Everything’s been fine at the inn?” Emily asked, almost scared of the answer. Hoping no one else had been attacked. Or threatened or chased.

“It’s all been quiet,” Preston said. But there was something about his voice that hinted he wasn’t as cool, calm, and collected as he wanted her to think.

She glanced out the window, only to frown. “Wait, I thought the meeting was at the inn?”

“Nope.” Preston turned right onto a dirt road. He glanced at her in the rearview mirror, darkness seeping into his expression.“There is no meeting. We’re the killers, Emily. And we’re taking you out here todie.”

Faye whacked his shoulder. “Shut up, Preston! We have enough shit going on, we don’t need you adding to it.” She glanced back at Emily. “Roscoe changed the location and sent us an address for the meeting.”