Page 45 of Haystacks and Hoaxes

“Troy Bentley. I thought I’d blocked his number a long time ago.”

“What does he want?” he growled.

She stared in horror at the messages flashing one right after another across her screen. “Forgiveness.” She didn’t believe it, of course. Not for a second!

I’m sorry, babe!

I was wrong to hurt you the way I did.

Please forgive me.

I’ve never stopped loving you.

The doorbell chimed, making her nearly jump out of her skin. She’d been on edge for days. According to her doctor, it was one of the side effects of the residual strychnine working its way out of her system.

Decker reached for her hand and covered it with his. “Don’t even think of opening it! That’s what security cameras are for.” He climbed down from his stool and angled his head at the doorway, urging her to follow him. He was nice enough to carry both of their coffee cups as he led her to his office.

It was a massive, windowless room that brought to mind the Oval Office. Video monitors were mounted on the three walls in front of his desk. Live feeds from both the outdoors and the indoors played across them. One of the video cameras was trained on the great room where Mila had been visiting with Rock every evening this week.

“You could’ve warned me,” she groaned, blushing.

Deck backed her into the throne-like swivel chair behind his desk. “Where’s the fun in that?” He parked her coffee mug in front of her.

“You’re a truly awful person!” She reached for her mug, blushing harder than ever.

“Not a half bad older brother, though.” He sounded smug. “If it had been any other guy with you earlier this evening, I would’ve come in there and broken both of his legs.”

She swayed dizzily. “You saw what I did?”

“I saw you make the lame walk and the blind to see.” He shook his head at her. “As for the poor guy’s heart? Complete toast.”

“Deck!” She nearly came out of her chair in her haste to point out the scene flashing across the monitor directly in front of her. “What’s that?” Unless she was hallucinating, it looked like a missile cruising toward the front entrance of his home!

“Drones. Dozens of them.” He fisted his hands at his sides. “So help me, if they’re carrying another bomb?—”

The drones separated and swarmed like an energetic cluster of lightning bugs. Then they converged to form a message flashing in a rainbow of tiny lights.

Mila, will you marry me?

The lights momentarily dispersed, and another message took shape.

I love you! —Troy

The lights continued to sparkle, shimmer into darkness, and reappear to form the same two messages over and over again.

Mila, will you marry me?

I love you! —Troy

Mila, will you marry me?

I love you! —Troy

Mila, will you marry me?

I love you! —Troy

“How dare he!” She gripped the edge of Decker’s desk. How did he even know she was staying at her brother’s house? Had the creep been stalking her? She felt exposed and violated. “Do something, Deck,” she begged, fearing she was about to be sick. “He’s trespassing!”

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