Page 30 of Melt for Me (The Last Snow of the Season 1)

A memory flits in my head for a minute but then it's gone.

"Who reads Jane Eyre on their vacation anyway?!"

"Oooh," I want to facepalm. "That letter that fell out of the book. Oh my God! I never even read that note."

"It doesn't matter. You took it with you."

"You broke in last night to find the letter...and to kill me too I guess."

"I've come too far to stop now. I've done so much. I went back to high school...,"

"Wait! Back to high school? You aren't eighteen?"

"Milly, I'm twenty-six."

My mouth drops open. There is no way for me to be anything but shocked.

"You want to know something really funny. I used to be one of them."

"Um, one of what?" A high-schooler? Technically we all are at one point in time.

"I was a police officer. Not a detective like your man but I like to think I was a damn good cop."

"And you gave it all up and went back to high school? For Tinsley?"

"Yes. It was the only way to get close enough to kill her. I was so careful with every tiny detail...except for you."

"You came back in the library to retrieve the note and found me with it."

"I would have killed you that day, but Rani was with you. She was the only thing keeping you alive that day."

Holy shit! I have to remember to think Rani...if I live through this. God, I really hope I make it through this! I want to see Jag again. I want to live the life we might have had! I need to find some way out of this.

"Please Krissy, wait," A thought occurs to me, "your name really is Krissy isn't it?"

"Actually no, my real name is Vivian."

"Vivian's a pretty name."

"Thank you. Damn it! I really hate having to kill you. The only consolation I have is that this is not my fault. This is Tinsley's fault. That bitch is the reason I have to kill you."

"You don't have to do this. You can...,"

"Shut up! I will not go to prison for killing that selfish bitch! And you are the only way anyone can link it back to me."

Oh shit! Pretty sure I am not going to be able to talk her out of this. She raises the gun taking aim at me. I close my eyes and squeeze them tight. The only thing I can think of is Jag. I didn't tell him how much I...I love him. Damn it! I should have said something last night.

A loud bang has me opening my eyes but all I see is white. My ears start to ring and my legs turn wobbly. There's a lot of confusion. Arms close around my waist and a familiar voice is close to my ear. "Keep those eyes closed baby."

I can barely hear him as my head pounds and if not for the familiar scent of Jag coming to me over a smell that is vaguely reminiscent of fireworks I would be freaking. I bury my face in his shoulder as he picks me up and carries me out of the room. The last thing I see is the shadowy image of someone taking Krissy/Vivian to the ground and putting handcuffs on her.

He takes me into the bedroom and starts shutting the blinds. "Just give yourself a minute and let some of the effects wear off."

We both sit for several minutes as the ringing in my ears stops and my vision clears a little. I'm clinging to him and crying, blubbering everything I need to tell him. I'm pretty sure he can't tell what I'm trying to say but it doesn't matter. I have to let him know.

"I love you. I have to let you know that. I have to tell you..."

"Shh, it's going to be alright baby. Just stay still and let me take care of you." He runs his hand through my hair and rocks me back and forth. "I know. I know you do, and I love you too."

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