Page 28 of Kian

Kian handed her the rifle, climbed onto the machine and positioned himself in front of her, putting his leg over the seat and leaning back.

“Hold on tight.” He revved up the engine and they tookoff through the snow. He laughed as Gretchen screamed and wrapped her arms around his waist while Lobo followed behind, barking excitedly.

He drove toward the spot where she had found him and paused for a moment before taking a left turn down a hill, weaving through trees, then up an incline. The further they went, the more familiar the area looked.

Kian slowed down when they reached a nearly frozen creek and came to a stop.

“What is it?”

“We’re getting close. Any signal yet?” He could feel Gretchen reaching for her phone in her pocket.

“Not yet.”

Kian slowly drove the ATV through the creek, so they wouldn’t get splashed by the freezing water.

“Is this your land?” he asked.

“No. Mine ended at the creek. We’re on public land now.”

He couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease after they crossed the creek. The memories came flooding back as he reached a small clearing and stopped suddenly. This was where they had shot him from. He turned off the engine, got off the bike and stood up, taking in his surroundings.

Gretchen’s voice broke through his thoughts, informing him that she had a signal. Kian looked at her, almost forgetting he wasn’t alone. She joined him on foot, her eyes scanning the area.

“Is that the carcass you saw?” she asked.

Kian nodded, his voice catching in his throat as he recalled the traumatic event. “Yes... they wanted me to die so I couldn’t report them.” He pointed up the hill to some trees. “That’s where I was standing when I called out to them.”

Gretchen wrapped her arms around him in a comforting embrace. Kian couldn’t help but feel grateful for her support.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

Kian shook his head, trying to push away the memories. “I’m just glad they didn’t leave me here. I would have died for sure.” He then thought about what had happened to his belongings. “I wonder what they did with my coat... ID... weapon—”

“Stetson,” Gretchen added, stressing the word as he had.

Kian turned to look at her with narrowed eyes, seeing her trying to hold back a grin.

“Smartass,” he muttered before walking toward the wolf carcass. As he crouched down next to it, he felt a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry, buddy.”

Gretchen handed him a phone and suggested he call his brother.

“Do you know his number?”

“Yes, it’s one digit off from mine. I’m sure he’s been worried. I’ve been gone over a week now.” Kian took a deep breath and dialed Killian’s number, putting the call on speaker in case there were any questions he couldn’t answer about the area.

“Agent Doyle speaking,” Killian answered, and Kian felt tears pricking at his eyes.

“Kil—” he started, but had to clear his throat. “Killian.”

“Kian? Kian, is that you?” Killian’s voice was filled with emotion.

“Yeah, little brother, it’s me.” Kian could hear Killian choking back a sob on the other end of the line.

“Where are you? I’ve been looking for you. We thought... we thought you were dead.”

“I almost was,” Kian replied, before explaining what had happened to him. “Gretchen is here with me. We’re on speaker. We’re where the men were when they shot me. There’s no cell service at her place. I just got my memory back, and we came here so I could call you.”

“Kian, everyone was worried sick. Mom and Dad are going to be ecstatic to hear from you.”

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