Page 4 of Split You Open

The revelation settles something in me. The panic and fear that’s been clinging to me since Ledger ran off after Blair is still there, but it’s manageable. Clarity pushes through the chaos. I’m smiling by the time we get back to the cabin and I cut the engine.

“Alright, Wes,” Santi says, breaking the silence. “I believe you. You didn’t help Ledger put all of this in motion.”

My shoulders sag in relief. I didn’t realize I was waiting for this response but now that I’ve heard it, I’m glad that Santi and I are on the same team.

“But you’re wrong about something,” he adds.

I look over at him, confused, and find Santi giving me a wane smile.

“She’s not your woman. She’s our woman.”

My laughter is soft and short-lived. “You’re right, Santi. She’s ours.”

“We’re going to get her back,” he promises, his smile fading. “There’s nothing Ledger could do to keep us away from her.”

I nod. “When he gets back, we’ll take everything from him—most importantly, we’ll tear Blair away from him.”

Santiago’s eyes flash with something bright and dangerous. When he grins, it’s without mirth and it’s all teeth.

“Perfect, then let’s prepare for their arrival.”

Two

Blair

“Shit.”

Rhett’s soft curse, spoken under his breath, pulls my attention away from the passenger side mirror. Tensing, I sit up a little straighter in my seat. My eyes sweep over the dark road ahead of us, but I don’t see anything amiss.

“What is it?”

“Gas tank’s nearly empty.” Rhett’s grip on the steering wheel tightens. “We’re going to have to abandon the vehicle.”

I don’t say it out loud, but I have a sinking suspicion that the vehicle probably has a tracker on it anyway. We might’ve gotten away from the SUV that had barreled toward us as we left Caddawalk behind, but I know they’ve got to be close.

“There’s an exit coming up. We can stop at one of the restaurants and trade cars with someone.”

Rhett shoots me a puzzled look. “Trade cars?”

“That was my nice way of suggesting I—we—should steal a car.”

The way “we” rolls off my tongue feels stilted. I’m still coming to terms with the fact that Rhett chose to come with me rather than return to the life he’s been clinging to for the past few years.

I’m not altogether sure why he chose to come.

I’m not sure if he thinks he owes me for saving his life when he nearly dove off the edge of the quarry a few days ago or if this is something else, but it’s not sitting right with me. He could die if he sticks around. This isn’t some game. I’m running from professional killers. These people aren’t the pathetic pieces of human scum he and Santi chase through the woods.

If he dies because he’s with me, I won’t be able to live with myself.

Rhett doesn’t deserve such a grisly end.

The guilt that’s increasing with every mile we put between us and Caddawalk is going to eat me alive. Rhett should be back in his bed by now, holding Santi and breathing a sigh of relief that the looming threat I brought to Gnarly Pines has passed.

What makes the guilt worse is that there’s a part of me that’s relieved that I’m not facing this alone.

“I can hot wire a car,” Rhett offers, his voice rough with stress. “I’m pretty quick with it.”

I look over at him, genuinely surprised. He notices and lets out a strained chuckle.