Page 156 of Ride the Sky

Richter holds out a small plastic sack. “Got some of your things.”

“Thanks,” she says, taking the bag of her belongings. She looks inside it then up. “What about my cane? It was in the hallway.”

He shakes his head. “Sorry. Wasn’t there.”

Fallon’s eyes water.

Rage. It’s the only emotion I feel. Some fucker violated Fallon’s safety. And now her cane’s gone?

“They took my cane,” she whispers.

“It’s okay,” I soothe. I hate seeing her upset. It absolutely kills me.

“No, it’s not.” This time, there are tears in her eyes. “You gave that to me. I—I loved it.” She inhales a shaky breath. “And now I can’t fucking walk.” Frustration stains her voice.

“Listen to me.” I tilt her chin toward me. “You’re safe. That’s all that matters. We’ll get you another one.”

“It’s not the same,” she complains weakly.

I kiss her brow, wrap her tighter in my arms. “Tough.”

Her voice is husky as she laughs. “So does this count as my last life?”

“Not funny,” I growl. “I go first. Remember that.”

She snorts. “Bullshit.”

Despite the situation, I grin. In competition until the day we die.

“Wy, a second?” I look up to see Richter and Davis staring at me.

“No,” Fallon says stubbornly, pulling out of my arms. “Don’t do that. Tell him what you won’t tell me.”

I grunt, backing Fallon.

Richter and Davis share a look.

Finally, Davis sighs as they both move closer. “We’re clearing out the cottage, but…”

“But what?” I’m pissed. I want to hit someone. If that’s Davis, so be it.

“The gas,” Richter says. “It was turned on as high as it could go.”

Fallon’s breath hitches.

“What the fuck are you saying?” I snarl.

“We’re saying it wasn’t an accident. The gas being that high was intentional.”

Fallon pales and sags limply against me.

Christ. What if she couldn’t get out of the house? What if she lit that fucking stove? I’d go up the same goddamn way if she left this fucking Earth.

“And,” Richter begins, pulling a card out of his pocket, “we found this on the front porch.”

The note reads:All this time you’ve been mine.

Motherfucker.

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