Page 45 of Distress Signal

“Don’t call me that,” I gritted out.

I fuckinghatedwhen he called me that, like I was some filthy dish rag to be discarded the second it outlived its usefulness.

Troy raised his hands. “Sorry. But can’t you see how insane this is? What are you going to be able to accomplish that those Podunk cops can’t?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” I said, angrily shoving sweaters into the suitcase flopped open on my bed, no longer caring about organization.

“You’re right,” he admitted. “I don’t get it. This isn’t the firsttime Lainey has taken off without telling you where she is. Why is this any different?”

Whirling on him, I allowed my fury to rise to the surface, exploding on him.

“She’s been gone for amonth, Troy!” I screamed. “I know you’re not exactly my sister’s biggest fan, but even you can understand that’s not normal. If she could, she would’ve come back by now. She would’ve at leastcalled.”

Unshed tears choked out the final word, but I wouldn’t allow myself to cry. Not now, and especially not in front of him.

“Whatever,” he said on a sigh.

“Get out.”

“Reagan…” My name was a plea.

I shook my head vehemently. “No. Leave. Now.”

I was through talking, done giving him the time of day. The time to cut all ties, to remove him from my life once and for all had long since passed.

“Reagan, please.”

Not bothering with words, I merely pointed toward the door.

For too long, he didn’t move, only stared at me, as though wordlessly willing me to change my mind.

I wouldn’t.

Eventually, he got the point and disappeared, but not without a final parting shot.

“You’ll be back.”

I wasn’t sure if he meant to Tennessee or tohim.

Likely both.

Only when his ridiculous sports car fired up and peeled away did I allow myself to break.

Not for Troy, but because I missed Lainey so deeply. Half of my heart, mysoulhad gone with her. Without her, I’d never be whole again.

Plus, Troy was wrong.

I might never come back.

All the reasons I had to stay here had disappeared right along with my sister.

The circumstances were unimaginable, but maybe this was my chance at the fresh start I’d secretly been craving for years. My opportunity to leave behind the ghosts of my parents, which still lingered in the halls of this home Lainey and I had once shared with them.

Besides, Lainey was in Dusk Valley. I might not have knownwhere, but my gut told me whoever had her hadn’t taken her far.

And wherever Lainey was? That was where I needed to be.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t also a bit excited to be living in the same town as Finn, even if my conscience whispered I was a horrible person for thinking such a thing given my sister’s disappearance.