Her eyes were red now, and they met mine. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
“Yes, I can!” I exploded. “Stop this fucking drama and get your ass in the fucking truck!”
She shook her head, tears falling faster now.
I knew I was being a jerk, but a cruel part of me wanted her to feel as guilty and desperate as I did. If fear was going to rip us apart, I’d rather she hate me than vanish from my life in a body bag.
She just stared, lips trembling.
“I’m not getting a divorce, okay?” I muttered, wiping at my face. “Just know this—wherever you go, I’m going too. I’ll play ball, keep my head down, blend in, whatever the fuck you need. But I’m not letting you walk away from me. And I will continue to do whatever I can to protect you. Now stop being difficult and get in the fucking truck.”
Her entire body stiffened.
“Okay, okay,” she said quickly. “Let me just go get my toothbrush.”
“I already got it. You’re packed. Let’s go.”
I grabbed her hand, and as we were making our way out of the cabin, Graham stopped us.
“Hey, Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon! I was wondering if you could both lead the final campfire tonight? It’s kind of a celebration, and since you’re our longest-standing camp counselors, it would mean so much,” he said with a smile.
I froze. I felt Mackenzie’s hand twitch in mine. Her nails dug into my palm, and I silently gripped her fingers tighter, telling her without words:Don’t blow this. Don’t show them we’re prey.
“Uh…” My throat worked uselessly. The duffel bag’s strap cut into my shoulder, suddenly ten times heavier. It felt like a weight dragging us down.
Graham grinned at us, completely oblivious to our thundering heart rates. “It’d mean a lot to the kids; they love you both. Parents will be here too. It’s your last summer. It would mean a lot to me and the camp.”
I gave him a fake smile. I wanted to shove past him, drag her to my truck, and keep running. But every instinct in me screamed that if we bolted now, it would be obvious. Like jerking a rabbit out of a snare while the hunter was still watching.
Mackenzie’s voice came out smoothly as she answered for us, but I felt the tremor in her hand. “Of course. We’d love to.”
Graham clapped his hands. “Perfect! Sundown. Don’t be late.”
The woods creaked and whispered around us.
“We can’t leave, Max,” she whispered.
From the corner of my vision, I swore I saw a shadow move at the tree line. I turned sharply, heart slamming into my ribs, but only saw the empty forest. No one there. Nothing.
My pulse roared in my ears anyway.
We were trapped.
31
MAX
The campfire flames burned bright, casting a flickering light across our faces like the glow of a lightbulb just about to go out. The red and orange flames danced and sputtered, revealing secrets I was trying to keep locked away.
Mackenzie and I had just shared our experiences with kids, parents, and other counselors about why Camp Blackshear was one of the most amazing places we had ever been. How it had changed our lives.
But inside, I was screaming. Because every time I turned, I heard whispers coming from the woods..
My grip on Mackenzie’s hand tightened as I struggled to shake off the fear and paranoia, but it was no use. Something was off; everything felt off. I was paralyzed with terror, convinced this might be the last time I ever saw her.
Losing her was my greatest fear. She was the love of my life, my addiction, my obsession. She was the part of me I didn’t realize I needed, and the thought of losing her made me feel like all my limbs were being severed.
I wasn’t interested in staying here and entertaining families when I just wanted to grab Mackenzie and run. I could tell shefelt the same because her eyes kept drifting toward the edge of the woods.
