I jolted awake, heart banging. Before I knew it I’d jumped from bed and thrown back the door.
Gary swayed on his feet in the hall.
I gasped.
He jammed his forearm against the wall and leaned into it. His mouth hung open, air stuttering down his throat and a wild glaze in his eyes. “Rayne.” His mouth quivered.
My legs started to shake. Never had I seen Gary cry. “What?”
His eyes closed. “The house. It’s burned down.”
“What? What house?”
“My … grandma’s house. They burned it.”
I stared at him. Had he gone out of his mind?
Gary dragged his eyes open. He wouldn’t look at me. “I drove over there … Wanted to sneak in … get a few things. It’s gone, Rayne. Everything’s gone.”
Footsteps sounded from the guestroom. Grandma Donovon appeared in her doorway, still in her clothes. “What’s going on?”
Another door clicked. Mom scurried into the hall, a frightened look on her face.
“Grandma.” Gary pushed up straight. His face twisted with sick determination. “Get in the truck. We’re leaving.”
“What? We—”
“Get. In. The truck.” He turned to her, bruised hands on his hips. “We have to go. We have to get out of town. Now.”
“Why? ”
“Our house is burned to the ground. We’ve got nothing left but our lives. And I’m not letting them take yours.”
Grandma Donovon’s eyes rounded. “My house is gone?”
Gary nodded.
“Ohhh!” She swooned. Mom ran to her.
Gary looked back to me. “Rayne—” His voice pinched off. He held up a hand, struggling to speak. “If Bart ever calls you again, tell him exactly this: ‘After you burned down Gary’s house, he and his grandmother left the state. He’s never coming back. And nobody’s going to the police.’ You tell him that, and he’ll leave you alone.”
“Gary, no!” I reached for him, my whole world dropping away. “You can’t go!”
He stepped back and held up both hands, palms out, as if to protect himself from me. But his eyes told the truth. If he faltered now, if he hesitated one little bit, he’d lose his resolve—and stay.
And the four of us would never be safe.
“Grandma.” His gaze held mine. I thought I would die. “Get in the truck.”
She threw a shocked look at me and started down the hall.
“Gary—” I wanted to scream that he’d change his mind in a day or two. He’d come back. Somehow, some way, we’d work this out …
But my heart caught in my throat, and my knees turned to water.
“Rayne.” His voice caught. “I love you.”
He turned away and walked down the hall.
A cry wrenched from me. Gary’s back stiffened. For a second he slowed. Then he pushed himself forward once more.
I gripped the doorway, deep sobs punching out of my mouth. This couldn’t be happening. None of it was real.
Gary disappeared around the corner.
My legs gave way. I sank to my knees on the carpet.
The front door opened and closed.
Only then did I realize the sound I heard from our driveway. The engine of his truck, already running.
No!
Sudden energy surged through me. I shoved to my feet and pounded down the hall. Mom yelled at me to stop, but I paid no attention. I careened around the corner, flung myself through the front door and out on the porch.
“Garyyyy!”
He’d just finished backing out of the driveway. The truck surged forward.
My last view of Gary Donovon was through the driver’s window. I glimpsed his steel profile, every finger clenched around the wheel as though any minute his brittle body would break.
Then he was gone.