Page 68 of The Route to You

So dead that he wondered if Liddy was still breathing.

“Okay,” she said at last, clearly processing. “With Sloan. With Sloan, as in she’s with you willingly? Or with Sloan, as in you kidnapped her? Oh my God, Kyle, did you kidnap her? You didn’t finally snap, did you? My God, I know you were going through a lot because of Granny, but⁠—”

“No!” He rubbed his eyes. “Fuck, Liddy, you don’t actually think I’d kidnap someone, do you?”

“I mean, I don’t know.” Liddy was suddenly tearful. “I mean, no, I don’t think you’d kidnap anyone, but you’ve been a little out there lately, and I know you’re emotional and Sloan . . .” A sob cut her words off.

A muffled sound came through. “Kyle?” Callum’s warm English accent was a welcome change. “What’s going on, mate? Liddy’s over here carrying on about you kidnapping someone.”

“I didn’t kidnap anyone,” Kyle gritted through his teeth. He glanced back at the Jeep, hoping Tallulah hadn’t heard.

Tallulah and Sloan were carrying Charlie between the two of them, hurrying away from the Jeep toward the side of the house.

He followed at a distance. “Listen, Callum, here are the facts—as quick as possible. I didn’t kidnap anyone. I did help my ex-girlfriend Sloan escape from her douchebag of a fiancé, who was cheating on her, and I’m driving her home to Montana. If you need more details, call Davy.”

“Davy . . . as in Isla’s friend, Davy?”

“Yes.”

“What does she have to do with all this?”

“I really don’t have time for this,” Kyle said, face burning hot. “Just call her. She’ll explain all the relevant details. But don’t call her yet. Give me like a five-minute head start because I need to call her too.”

He hung up before Callum could protest.

Before he could throw the only one working phone between him and Sloan, he jammed it into his pocket.

As he did, a flood of notifications came in.

What the fuck is happening?

He lifted his phone. Voice messages from Elle. Mom and Dad. Quinn. Isla. Even Dean.

Holy shit.

“Hold it right there, buddy.”

A soft, metallic click made him freeze.

He looked up. A man stood several feet away, rifle in hand, pointed right at him.

Kyle’s gut dropped, his hands lifting slowly.

This must be Cheyenne’s dad.

The news. The missing persons report.

His mind raced.

And just as his brain started to put everything that was happening together, sirens wailed behind him.

Oh shit.

PART 2

18

KYLE