Page 129 of Nothing But Air

“That’s not what I?—”

“Or when you invited me to that dinner with your parents,” Kyle pushed on, his voice more insistent. “Landon didn’t even want me there, but you were adamant. You said I was important to you. That I mattered.”

She had said that.

Because Kyle had looked devastated when Landon mentioned the dinner in front of Kyle, and she’d been trying to be kind.

Kind.

Her kindness had killed Landon.

“Kyle.” She kept her voice calm. Reasonable. Trying to match his tone. “I was being polite. That’s all. I was engaged to Landon. I loved Landon.”

“You thought you loved him.” Kyle’s confidence didn’t waver. “But you were settling. I could see it. The way you’d light up when I walked in. The way you’d laugh at my jokes—really laugh, not that polite thing you did with him.”

“I laughed at your jokes because they were funny. That’s what friends do.”

“We were never just friends.”

“We were absolutely just friends.”

“Then why did you call me?” His voice took on an edge. “After two years of silence, you called me. Invited me on this expedition. If that’s not a sign?—”

“I didn’t call you. I called Sierra. She reached out to you.”

“Because you needed more help. You needed me.”

“I needed people who could handle a 5.12.” Eden heard her voice rising and forced it back down. “Kyle, listen to me. Whatever you think happened, whatever signals you think I was sending, I wasn’t. I was being friendly. Being kind. That’s it.”

“Don’t do this.” His voice hardened, the patience cracking. “Don’t pretend now. I know you’re scared. I know this is overwhelming. But we’re so close. Once we have the gold, once Teague is dealt with?—”

“Dealt with?” She might be sick. Right here at her feet.

“He’s another obstacle.” Kyle’s voice was matter-of-fact. Clinical. “Just like Landon was. But it’ll be easier this time—an accident during the storm, during the hike out.” A shrug. “Nobody will question it.”

“You’re planning to kill Teague.” Of course he was planning to kill Teage—she’d been sure he was planning to kill both of them until about three minutes ago.

Kyle’s hand squeezed her shoulder. “I understand. This is a lot to process. But once we’re in Costa Rica, once we have time to really be together without all these distractions?—”

“I’m not going anywhere with you. Ever.”

“Eden—”

“You murdered my fiancé.” She jerked away from his touch. “Your best friend. You killed him, and you actually think I wanted that? That we planned it together?”

“We did plan it together.”

“I didn’t want that. Because I loved Landon and I wanted to marry him and spend my life with him.”

“I know that is what you told everyone but?—”

“No. I did. I absolutely did.”

“Then why did you keep choosing me over him?”

“I didn’t!”

Kyle was quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice had changed. Colder. Harder.