“What is it?”
“Call Inez’s dad,” I say. “Tell him Inez is okay. She’s coming home soon.”
There’s a pause.
“What?” my mom says. “Becca—”
The line crackles.
Static.
Then it cuts out completely.
I pull the phone away from my ear and stare at the screen.
No signal.
Fuck.
I must be too deep in the woods. The mountains mess with reception.
I sigh, slip the phone back into my pocket, and take another drag of my cigarette.
I’ll call her back when I get closer to the house.
I turn around and start walking back toward the trail.
That’s when I hear it.
An engine.
I freeze.
Headlights cut through the darkness. Bright. Blinding.
A black SUV.
Coming fast.
My heart starts pounding.
I reach for the gun at my waistband and pull it out.
My hands are shaking.
The SUV screeches to a stop.
“Rebecca Valentine,” he says, his voice smooth and calm. “We’ve been looking for you.”
I raise the gun and point it at him.
“Stay back,” I say, my voice shaking. “I’ll shoot.”
Lionetti doesn’t move. Doesn’t flinch.
“Will you?” he asks, his tone almost amused.
One of the men moves fast.
