Three is a War(5)

Open shelving on the kitchen’s raw wood walls displays dishes and cookware. The floor plan is simple, airy, and bright, as if designed to pull visitors toward the exterior views of the lake and woodland.

There’s another door beyond the built-in refrigerator, the wood frame blending with the maple cabinetry. I bet it leads to a garage.

“You’re free to go.” Cole prowls around the long kitchen island, standing opposite of Trace and corralling me in. “After I explain a few things and deliver your punishment.”

“Punishment?” My jaw drops, and my heart rate explodes. “Are you serious?”

Trace assumes an imposing stance, hands behind him, blocking my path to the garage door. His eyes flick between Cole and the gun on the table. “We haven’t agreed on who is punishing her.”

“That was the disagreement?” I stab my fingers through my hair, my voice pitching with disbelief. “You wanted to be the one to punish me, so you pulled a gun on Cole?”

“I want to be the only one putting a hand on you. Ever.”

“This is nuts.” I try to dart around him, but he shifts with me, trapping me behind the island. I turn to Cole, who barricades the other end. I’ll scratch and claw my way past them if I need to. “We’re over. No more talking. No more punish—”

“You kicked me out of our house.” Cole stalks closer, six feet away, three feet, every long stride forcing me backward toward Trace. “I haven’t talked to you or touched you in weeks. Not cool, baby. Your ass is going to be so fucking red you won’t be able to sit down for days.”

“You cheated on me!” A sob rises up, shaking my shoulders. “I waited for you, mourned your death, while you were banging another woman!”

“Are you hearing this?” Cole glowers at Trace and thrusts a finger in my direction. “She just proved my fucking point. I win.”

Trace’s nostrils widen with a heavy inhale before he gives a slight nod. “Fine.”

What the hell just happened? I swat a lock of hair from my face, my vision blurring with tears. “You win what exactly?”

“I will be the one punishing you.” Cole’s eyes dance with ruthless fire. “And you’ll love every minute of it.”

“No, Cole.” I ball my hands at my sides, my voice simmering with venom. “You will take your verbal masturbation and shove it up your cocky, lying, cheating ass!”

“There she is.” Trace’s scowl lifts at the corner.

“What does that mean?” I angrily swipe at the moisture on my cheek.

“You lost that feisty attitude over the past few months. I hoped this…action plan would inspire it to return.”

“By action plan you mean knocking me unconscious and dragging me into the middle of nowhere?”

“Yes.” Trace tilts his head, his towering frame deadly still.

“Move out of my way.” I hold my fists at my sides.

“Danni—”

“I want to leave gently, gracefully. Give me that.” I lower my tone. “Let. Me. Go.”

“You don’t get to go gentle.” Cole leans in, his breath heating my neck. “Not when you have a reason to fight.”

“Fight for what? Can you not see how hopeless this is?” I plaster my back against the cabinet, hemmed in and restless for space. “We’re a tangled, damaged, unfortunate tragedy of love. I’m not fighting for that.”

“You will.” Trace steps to the side, opening a path to escape.

I take it, running toward the door at the edge of the kitchen and finding a three-car garage on the other side.

Cole’s motorcycle, multiple ATVs, and a black Range Rover fill the stalls. I close the door, leaving them in the kitchen, and scour the garage for keys. Nothing. The SUV is the only vehicle that can get me back to civilization, and all the doors are locked. Fuck.

Maybe there are more cars in the driveway? I circle back and hit the button that lifts the garage doors. I’m surprised Cole and Trace haven’t followed me. It’s not a good sign. If there’s a chance I can leave, I’m certain they’ll prevent it. Doesn’t stop me from racing into the blast of cold air outside of the garage.

The half-circle driveway is empty. My shoulders fall, and the frigid temperatures shiver through my bones. I don’t have a coat or a phone. My stiletto boots are sexy as hell, but I won’t last a mile in them.

I walk to the end of the black asphalt and pause at the narrow dirt road that winds into the woods. The estate sits on a dead end. No other houses. No rumble of traffic in the distance. Total isolation.

Dusk blankets the surrounding forest of leaf-less trees in a gray gloom, the sky growing darker by the minute. My only option is to go back inside, but my boots remain rooted to the pavement.