Page 213 of The Dark Stranger

---

“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.

---