Hadley obeyed, her heart pounding as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. A single lamp glowed in the corner of the room, casting long shadows across worn furniture and faded walls.
Then she saw them.
A couple, probably in their early seventies, sat at the kitchen table just beyond the living area, their hands bound to the chairs. A strip of cloth had been tied loosely around each of their mouths, though it had slipped low enough now that Hadley could see their expressions clearly.
She saw their fear and exhaustion.
But at least they were alive.
Relief hit her.
They weren’t hurt. Not that she could see. Just terrified. She could work with that.
Her gaze lingered on them half a second longer before something else caught her attention—a framed photo on the wall nearby. The image showed the same couple, younger and smiling as they stood beside a man Hadley instantly recognized.
Max.
Her breath caught.
This couple must be his aunt and uncle. Herb and Billie.
Understanding snapped into place. This house wasn’t random. It was personal.
Kendra shoved her harder, breaking her focus. “Go on. Don’t stop.”
Hadley stumbled forward and caught herself just before she fell. But Kendra didn’t give her time to recover.
She shoved her again and sent her tumbling toward the couch. “Sit.”
Hadley dropped onto the worn cushions, her body tense and her mind racing. Kendra remained standing, her posture rigid but controlled as she held the gun.
“Now we wait,” Kendra said.
Hadley swallowed, her throat dry. “For what?”
Kendra’s lips curved into a small, unsettling smile. “For Max to find us.”
The words sent a chill down Hadley’s spine. Just what was she planning to do when Max got there?
Before she could respond, a mustard-colored phone mounted on the kitchen wall rang.
The jarring sound cut through the quiet. Kendra’s smile widened as she stared at the phone. “Right on time.”
“You think that by doing this, Max is going to run back into your arms?” Hadley didn’t bother to keep the disbelief from her voice.
Kendra glanced at her, her expression almost amused. “If he’s smart, he will.”
Hadley shook her head slowly, forcing her voice to soften. “Kendra . . . that’s not what you want.”
Kendra’s gaze flicked back to her. “No?”
“You need to be with someone who appreciates you as you are.” Hadley chose each word with care. “Not because you’re forcing their hand.”
“Shut up!” Kendra snapped. “You don’t know anything. Max and I were perfect together. We understood each other.”
Hadley held her gaze, refusing to look away.
“But I knew,” Kendra continued, her expression hardening, “from the moment he first saw you that you’d be trouble. I saw how he looked at you.”
