Chapter 42
Max sat forward in his seat as Sheriff Sutherland sped down the road.
The sheriff had just finished talking to someone from the railroad. They’d confirmed that a freight train had come through the area about twenty minutes ago, running east to west.
“Kendra wanted to go somewhere close,” Max said.
“And somewhere you’d think to look,” Sheriff Sutherland added. “Because I think she ultimately wants to lure you out. You’re her prize, as twisted as it sounds.”
Max didn’t respond, but the truth of it settled in his chest.
Kendra wanted him to find her.
That thought sat wrong in every possible way.
Backup had been called in. Two additional units were en route, still several minutes out. Too far. Too slow.
Max’s gaze flicked to the dark stretch of road ahead. He remembered being here a month ago when a dangerous cult had invaded his family’s land and tried to take over the property. Thankfully, his aunt and uncle had been okay.
But now this? He hated to put them through more than they’d already been through.
Sheriff Sutherland slowed just enough to take the next turn. The tires crunched as they veered onto the smaller road leading toward his aunt and uncle’s place.
The farther they went down the road, the more secluded it became. His relatives had wanted to live where there was plenty of land and away from the world. But they’d recently learned such seclusion could also be a danger.
Max’s pulse kicked higher as they got closer.
Sheriff Sutherland eased off the gas, his posture shifting.
Something ahead caught his eye.
Max leaned forward and squinted. “Hold up.”
The sheriff slowed further, the headlights stretching out over the road.
A truck was parked sideways, blocking access.
Max’s stomach dropped. “I don’t like the look of that . . .”
Sheriff Sutherland brought the SUV to a slow stop, leaving several yards between them and the vehicle. The engine idled low, the only sound in the stillness.
For a second, nothing moved.
Then the driver’s side door of the truck opened.
Max’s muscles tensed as a figure stepped out into the headlights.
Kenny.
Recognition hit instantly.
The man didn’t rush or shout. Instead, he moved with a deliberate, almost eerie calm as he rounded the front of the truck.
Then he lifted his arm.
Metal caught the light.
He had a gun.
Max’s breath stilled.
Kenny stopped in the middle of the road and planted his feet wide as he raised the weapon and aimed it directly at them.
Sheriff Sutherland reached for his own weapon. But he didn’t draw. Not yet.
Every instinct in Max screamed to get past him, to push forward, to keep going.
Hadley was out there.
In danger. Waiting.
And this . . . makeshift roadblock was standing in his way.
Kenny’s eyes locked on them with something dark and volatile simmering beneath the surface.
He didn’t speak or make a demand.
Instead, he simply stood there, gun raised, blocking the only road forward.
Hadley’s gaze kept drifting back to the kitchen table.
To Herb and Billie.
Her chest tightened when she saw the fear on their faces.
“They don’t have anything to do with this.” Hadley forced her voice sound calm as she turned back to Kendra. “Please . . . just let them go.”
Kendra didn’t even look at them. She stood near the doorway, the gun still steady in her hand, her focus entirely on Hadley. “No.”
Hadley swallowed. “Kendra, they’re innocent. You don’t need them here. You don’t need to hurt them.”
“I’m not going to hurt them.” Kendra almost sounded impatient, like the suggestion annoyed her. “But they need to stay where they are.”
“Why?” Hadley’s voice tightened despite her effort to keep it level.
Kendra’s lips curved. “Because I want them to see. I want them to understand how much I love Max.”
The words sent a chill through Hadley.
She glanced back at the couple again, her heart stuttering at the sight of Billie leaning closer to Herb.
“Herb,” Billie whispered, her gag falling to her chin. “Stay with me, okay?”
Hadley straightened. “What’s wrong?”
Billie looked up at her, fear flashing in her eyes. “His blood sugar . . . it’s low. I can tell. If he doesn’t get his medicine soon, he might pass out.”
Hadley’s stomach dropped. “Kendra, he needs something to eat. Right now. This isn’t optional—he could lose consciousness.”
Kendra didn’t move or react.
“Kendra, please,” Hadley pressed. “Let me help him. Or let Billie get something for him. You don’t want that on your conscience.”
Still nothing.
The lack of response was worse than anger.
It meant Kendra didn’t care.
Hadley started to stand. “Kendra, listen to me—”
The crack of the impact came out of nowhere.
Pain exploded across Hadley’s cheek as her head snapped to the side. She staggered, catching herself on the edge of the couch as the room spun.
“Stop talking!” Kendra snapped.
Hadley blinked hard, fighting to stay upright as the sting spread across her face. The coppery taste of blood touched her tongue, but she swallowed it back.
Kendra remained where she’d been standing, the gun now raised higher and her expression tight with irritation.
Hadley drew in a slow breath.
She couldn’t push too hard. Not like that.
But she couldn’t stop trying either.
“You drugged me.” Hadley’s voice sounded quieter now, steadier despite the pain. “Didn’t you? You put something in those cookies you gave me.”
Kendra’s expression shifted. Then she smiled. “Pretty smart move, wasn’t it? Took the meds right from your office.”
Hadley stared at her. “How? I checked everything. Nothing was missing.”
Kendra gave a small, almost amused shake of her head. “You should check again. The vials are still there.”
Hadley’s stomach tightened.
“They’re just filled with water now.” Kendra grinned smugly.
The casual way she said it made something cold settle in Hadley’s chest. “You knew exactly what you were doing, didn’t you?”
“Of course, I did.”
Hadley searched her face, trying to understand. “How? What even gave you the idea . . .”
“I was a nurse.” The words hung in the air for a second before Kendra continued. “Until they stole my license from me. They said I acted inappropriately. But all I did was fall in love with a patient.” Her tone turned mocking. “They made it sound so devious.”
Hadley didn’t speak or move. She only listened. Each new fact only solidified how much Kendra needed help.
Kendra’s gaze sharpened, something darker flickering beneath the surface now. “He was in love with me. And I was only trying to help him.”
Hadley’s pulse pounded in her ears as she held Kendra’s gaze, the pieces settling into place with terrifying clarity.
This wasn’t just desperation or jealousy. Kendra wasn’t thinking rationally at all.
She was unpredictable. Unstable. A loose cannon.
And Hadley had no idea what she might do next.