Killer Summer, Lynda Curnyn [books suggested by bill gates .txt] 📗

If anything happens to Sage, I swear I’ll never forgive myself,“ I muttered breathlessly, picking up speed once we hit Seabay— Vince’s block.

“Nothing is going to happen to her, Zoe,” Myles said, his voice full of conviction, though he was running just as hard as I was.

I was trying not to imagine the worst. Trying not to think about the fact that Vince had brutally murdered Maggie for discovering what was likely the same scheme Sage had stumbled upon today.

I also tried not to think about what Vince might do to Sage if she even hinted at what she knew.

And there was no way I could bear the thought of Chad, who surely had lost his life simply because he had had the misfortune of being the only witness to Vince’s arrival on Fire Island the night of Maggie’s murder.

I bit back hard on the realization that Vince’s arrogance knew no bounds. He had barely even covered his tracks after doing Chad in.

Which left me with at least one truth I couldn’t deny: Vince was clearly capable of anything at this point.

Dear God, please don’t let him hurt Sage.

Within moments, we were in front of the house. And just as I

began to dart toward the lights that beckoned through the reeds, Myles grabbed my arm, practically wrenching it out of the socket. “Zoe, let me go first.”

I pulled free, ignoring his words as I bolted up the wooden ramp to the front door.

It only took one glance through the screen to realize whose body was pinned beneath Vince’s on the living room floor.

I flew through the door, grabbing the first object large enough to do damage—a vase propped up on a pedestal.

Heart pounding, I drew up quietly behind Vince, nearly biting off my own tongue as I smashed the vase against his head.

He fell to the side immediately. In fact, the effectiveness of my blow surprised me so much I blinked in confusion. But once the fog cleared, I found myself staring down at Sage, who was pale-faced, motionless…

“Oh, God. Sage!” I cried, dropping to my knees and grabbing her arms. I nearly sobbed with relief when her eyes fluttered open.

“Zoe,” she whispered hoarsely, her eyes filling with tears as I cradled her in my arms. I heard Myles behind me and vaguely registered the sound of his voice barking out the address to the police, then slamming down the phone.

But I couldn’t miss the warning he yelled out next. “Look out!”

I swung around, just in time to see Vince struggling to his feet.

Just in time to hear a blast shatter through the room, sending Vince sprawling backward, blood spreading quickly across his chest.

But that was nothing compared to the sight of Tom in the doorway, a gun in his hand, his face ashen as he gazed on the man he’d once called his best friend.

Epilogue

Zoe

Summer’s over—not a moment too soon.

??? e you guys coming or what? Dinner is on the table!”

I stepped into the kitchen, zipping up the sweatshirt I had slipped on. It was a pretty cold night for October. But then, it was always a little cooler by the shore.

“Coming, Mother,” I said, smiling at the sight of Sage, who stood hovering over the feast she had laid out on the dining room table, an exasperated look on her face.

“Where’s Nick?” she said, ignoring my jab.

“Still on the phone,” I replied, taking the seat opposite her and reaching for the bottle of wine to pour myself a glass. “I think I might have even heard him giggling. Do guys giggle?”

Sage shook her head, but I could see she was fighting a smile. “Only when they’re besotted,” she said, leaning over to stir the serving bowl of pasta she’d placed at the center of the table. “Everything is getting cold,” she continued with a sigh, dropping the spoon and heading over to the kitchen island. I watched as she opened a drawer and reached for the aluminum foil. Then she changed tracks, slamming the drawer shut and stomping out of the kitchen. “Nick, you’d better get your sorry little ass in here!”

I laughed out loud. Which wasn’t an uncommon event for me these days.

My gaze moved to the large windows overlooking the living room, and I shivered as the rain lashed against the glass.

It occurred to me that this was the first weekend it had rained at Kismet since we’d been coming out here.

I guess, in some respects anyway, it wasn’t such a bad summer after all.

Of course, we hadn’t, technically, been out here since that harrowing night at Vince’s house. Mostly because Sage hadn’t been able to bring herself to return to Kismet after all that had happened. I couldn’t blame her. In fact, none of us had come back. Because really, what was the beach without our favorite beach bum and best friend, Sage?

Which was why Nick and I agreed to come immediately when Sage called to say that she wanted to close the house down for Tom. The good news was that Tom’s business was back on track and the charges against him in the shooting death of Vince Trifelli had been ruled justifiable homicide. The bad news was that now that the dust had settled, the loss of his wife was hitting Tom pretty hard. In fact, he had gone down to North Carolina with Francesca to visit his family for a couple of weeks, which was why Sage had offered to come to Kismet and shut down Maggie’s Dream for the season.

At least that’s why she claimed she had come out here. But I had a feeling Sage wanted to put a few demons to rest. And maybe finally even get that fun weekend-at-the-beach with friends she’d been hoping for ever since she had dragged us into this house share.

Okay, so it was October and it was raining. At least I wouldn’t get a sunburn.

“Admit it, Nick. You’re whipped,” Sage