Fireball

Copyright © 2023 by Abbi Glines All rights reserved. Visit my website at www.abbiglinesbooks.com Cover Designer: www.Damonza.com Editor: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing, www.unforeseenediting.com Formatting: Melissa Stevens, The Illustrated Author, www.theillustratedauthor.com No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Table of Contents Copyright I One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen II Twenty Twenty-One Twenty-Two Twenty-Three Twenty-Four Twenty-Five Twenty-Six Twenty-Seven Twenty-Eight Twenty-Nine Thirty Thirty-One Thirty-Two Thirty-Three Thirty-Four Thirty-Five Book Three Teaser... One Acknowledgments To Miriam Israel, the first baby I loved with my whole heart. I was only five, but I was sure no one could ever take your place. Sure, I always took the best Barbies and threatened to stop playing with you if I couldn’t have the pink My Little Pony, but that’s what big sisters are for. We might be cousins, but in my heart, you’ll always be my sister. I “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” —Sir Walter Scott One Madeline While outside on the balcony wrapped in a blanket with a cup of coffee in my hand, I stared off into the distance. The Smoky Mountains were chilly in the early morning, even in the summer. It was silent, except for the sounds of nature waking up. If I could find peace, this was the moment every day when I caught a glimpse of it. Before reality sank in. Saxon was leaving today. He’d stayed with me for two weeks, but he needed to return to Moses Mile. I would miss his company even if I spoke very little. Just having someone here gave me a sense of security. The Houstons wanted me to remain here, in their cabin, one they owned and rented out. Saxon’s mother, Melanie, had said it gave her peace of mind. When I had fled, I’d had nowhere to go. There was no home for me anymore. After days of driving, unsure of where we were going, Saxon had brought me here. There had been no calls or texts from Blaise in the almost three weeks since my world had been shattered. I should be relieved he was leaving me alone. Killing my father and brother was unforgivable. Explanations would never make it better. Nothing would. But my heart had never felt so empty. I made it through each day, going through the motions. Knowing deep down that if he called, I’d answer. Just to hear his voice. I was ashamed of that. The door behind me opened, and I didn’t turn around to see Saxon. I knew he was leaving. I wasn’t ready for that goodbye. He had helped the loneliness. A little. The fear of being alone was a part of me now. I would never be able to go back to the way I had once been. “The fridge is stocked. You should be good for a week. I left a credit card on the counter. Use it. Mom wants to make sure you have all you need. She understands you don’t feel like talking right now but wants you to call her when you do. She wants to visit you too.” He paused then, and I knew he wanted me to say that, yes, I’d call or that I wanted her to visit. But the truth was, Melanie wasn’t someone I felt like I could rely on. She did what the Hughes said to do. After seeing the photos of my dad and Cole, I couldn’t blame her. “The rental car company will drop off your car today too,” Saxon added when it was clear I wasn’t going to respond. I nodded, then managed a, “Thank you.” He walked around to stand in front of me. The concern on his face was clear. It was also the only expression he’d worn since we had driven away from Blaise’s house. More than once, I’d wondered if he’d have taken me away if Blaise hadn’t told him to. How deep was Blaise’s power? Would he kill Saxon if he didn’t obey? Did he kill people with no remorse? My stomach twisted into a knot, and I swallowed hard. I hated thinking about Blaise that way. The man I had fallen in love with didn’t truly exist. If I had known the evil that he was capable of, I’d never have given him my heart. “Maddy.” Saxon’s voice was gentle. He was good, kind, and thoughtful. Why couldn’t I have fallen in love with him? It was what Blaise had intended. He’d wanted Saxon for me. He had told me so. How much easier it would have been to love Saxon. “Please eat and get out of this cabin, walk around in town, do something. Don’t just stay inside. Promise me you will. I’ll be back to visit when I can. You’re safe here.” The idea of eating made my stomach rebel, but I nodded anyway. “Okay,” I replied. “If you need anything, call me. Don’t hesitate,” he said. “I will,” I told him. “I promise.” The smile I managed was weak, but it was all I could do. Saxon sighed heavily. He was worried about leaving me. He cared about how I was doing. Blaise didn’t. Again, if only I could love Saxon. But my heart was destroyed. I’d never love again. “I’ve got to meet Dad in Nashville today to look at a horse. I need to go.” His tone was apologetic. “Go, Saxon. It’s okay. I’m fine.” All lies. I