The car skidded to a halt in the gravel driveway, its tires kicking up slush and ice.

The driver’s side door flew open.

A figure stepped out into the freezing wind, her expensive fur coat flapping around her knees.

It was Vanessa.

Her hair was wild, her face pale and twisted with rage as she stared at the cabin.

In her hand, she held a small, silver velvet jewelry box, but she wasn’t looking at it.

She was looking directly at the front door.

“Claire!” she screamed over the sound of the wind.

“Claire, I know you’re in there!”

Marcus stepped toward the door, but I caught his arm.

“Don’t,” I said. “She’s desperate.”

“She’s trespassing,” Marcus said, his voice cold. “And she’s a threat to you and the child.”

Through the window, I saw another set of headlights appearing at the bottom of the ridge.

These lights were blue and red, flashing silently against the snow-covered pine trees.

They were moving fast.

Vanessa heard them too.

She spun around, her eyes widening as she saw the flashing lights climbing the hill.