She looked up.
Travis.
Her breath caught. Everything within her went still.
This was not a coincidence. It wasn’t fate. This was a setup, and her gut instincts were screaming.
He had on a pair of worn jeans and a ball cap. His smile didn’t reach his eyes. She used to think he was harmless. Not anymore.
“Morning, Lainey,” he said quietly. “Car trouble?”
This was no accident. He planned this.
Lainey’s pulse thundered in her ears. She hesitated until her eyes dropped to the gun in his right hand. “Travis?”
She looked at Luke, who was watching her. Frozen. Terrified.
She had one shot. One chance.
She threw her phone under the car with a flick of her wrist and turned to Luke.
“Run!” she shouted, shoving him toward the trees.
Luke bolted without question, his backpack bouncing on his shoulders.
“Damn it!” Travis cursed, raising the gun.
Lainey turned back, hands up. “Don’t. He’s just a kid.”
Travis stepped closer. The gun didn’t waver. A muscle ticked in his jaw.
“Get in the truck,” he snapped. “You’re the one they want anyhow.”
Lainey hesitated, her heart hammering.
Please, God, let Luke find someone. Let Finn find us.
If she didn’t come out of this alive, at least Luke would have his dad. And Finn would make sure he was safe.
She swallowed her fear as Travis yanked her toward the truck.
“I’m just following orders, Lainey,” he muttered, like that would make this okay. “This isn’t personal.”
“The hell it isn’t,” she spat out.
He pushed her into the passenger side and slammed the door behind her. Then he walked around and climbed in on the driver’s side.
“Put your seat belt on, Lainey. I want you to stay safe. For now.”
She clicked the seat belt and stared ahead.
She wanted to ask why. She wanted to know who was behind this. What the hell did they think this would solve?
Although at this point, none of it mattered. Not now.
She was in way over her head. And it would take a miracle to get out of it.
Luke ran as fastas he could.
