Secrets and Scars: A Gripping Psychological Thriller (Fatal Hearts Series Book 3) by Dori Lavelle Page B

make them out to be. There’s nothing complicated about the way I feel about you. I love you. It’s as simple as that. Everything else is just details.”
    “Okay.” I took another sip of water, focusing on the stream moving down my throat. I stood. “You’re right. Some things are simple. Right now, I want you to finish the water.” I pushed the bottle into his hands “It’s as simple as that.”
    A low laugh rumbled in his chest. “I’m glad to see you still have that fire I love so much. Don’t let anything or anyone take that away from you.” He lifted the bottle to his lips and took a swig.
    I turned my gaze to the sparkling sea in the distance, and watched the waves crashing and frothing on the shore. So far away and yet so near. I could almost reach out and touch the water, dive into its coolness, allow myself to be submerged, to be refreshed.
    Would I ever be able to do that again?
    We continued our hike around the rim of the volcano, in search of a shortcut to the village. I walked a few steps in front of Owen so he wouldn’t try to hold my hand again.
    The more time we spent together, the more vulnerable to him I became. His touch was something I wanted, even craved, but I couldn’t give in to it.
    After a while, I bent to adjust my sandals. My heart crashed when I heard the voice I dreaded the most. It slithered like a snake and wrapped itself around my throat.
    I straightened up so fast, something popped in my back. My movements lacked energy as I turned to look behind me.
    Alvin had changed since the last time I saw him—his hair was tousled and there were cuts on his dirt-smeared face. The venom in his eyes was like molten lava. His gun was pointed at Owen.
    “You damn traitor.” He took a step closer. “You think you can steal my wife and not suffer the consequences?”
    With each step Alvin took forward, Owen took one back, nearer to me, the way he had done when we spotted the snake.
    “You’re full of shit. She was never meant to be your wife. You played her all along. You infected her with HIV, you stinking bastard.” The direction of Owen’s movements changed. Fear clawed my spine when he charged toward Alvin. I closed my eyes at the crunch of his fist as he slammed it into Alvin’s face.
    The gun dropped from Alvin’s hands and slid out of his reach, bouncing off a rock on the ground. Owen darted for it, but before he could touch it, Alvin tripped him.
    Owen fell face first into the ground only to flip onto his back again.
    “No,” I screamed when Alvin dropped to Owen’s side, his fist catching Owen’s nose.
    Blood.
    No. No.
    Owen could get infected.
    Alvin’s bloody fist caught Owen’s jaw next.
    I wanted to run past as they battled, to grab the gun and save Owen, but my legs had forgotten how to move. By the time the life returned to them, Owen lay defeated on the ground and the gun was back in Alvin’s hands. He stood over Owen, one leg on each side of his body. Owen’s face was turned to the side, his cheek on the ground. His eyes met mine, and I understood every word he didn’t say.
    I’m sorry.
    An electric current of fear raced through my entire body. My eyes pleaded with him not to give up.
    “Look at you.” Alvin aimed the gun at Owen’s head. “You’re still the pussy you were in college. I gave you a chance to run, to be smart, but you didn’t take it. Now there’s no way out but death.” He punctuated each word with a wave of the gun, and each time, my heart came to the verge of stopping. I expected to hear a bang, waited for the jerk of Owen’s body as the bullet hit him.
    Think, think, think. Do something. My gaze swept the ground for something, anything that could be of help.
    Alvin glanced at me and then at Owen. “No one fucks my bitch and lives. Why the fuck did you have to get in the way?” A shower of spit sprayed from his mouth, sparkling in the sunshine.
    “She’s not… your bitch,” Owen croaked.
    “Tell that to the bullet.”
    My