It was Skye, he knew. He was getting in too deep, beginning to care for her too much. He needed to pull back, put some distance between them.

Conn’s words echoed in his head. Don’t hurt her, Edge. Easing things back would be best for both of them.

In the meantime, while he waited for news, he had a job to do. Skye’s family was still in danger. Callie’s friend Lila was in danger. He walked into the living room, ready to talk to Skye, go over their plans for the day.

There was a brief note on the kitchen counter.

But Skye was already gone.

* * *

Lila wrapped her arms around her waist, trying to stop the shaking. She stood in the shadows of the Sundowner Motel, the run-down establishment they had stayed in last night. The morning was chilly. The moist air seemed to stick in her lungs. A few feet away, Daniel loaded her carry-on into the back of the SUV.

She squeezed her eyes shut as Dutch and Beeker loaded the second SUV, sliding a rolled-up blue plastic tarp in the back that Harley and Dutch had stolen last night from a True Value hardware store in Angel Fire, a town twelve miles way.

They’d also taken cleaning supplies: a mop, bleach, and paper towels to clean up the blood on the floor of the room where Riley and Stella had been staying.

The room where Riley had killed her.

Lila’s throat swelled. She shuddered at the memory of the argument that had gone on next door in the middle of the night. She was sure Beeker had started it. Stella was too cowed to stand up for herself, and Beeker had a mean streak far more dangerous than any of the other men.

He would stir up trouble on purpose just to have an excuse to hit her. Stella didn’t mix his drink the way he wanted it. He didn’t like the way she was wearing her hair. It could have been anything. Beeker was all about using his fists, even though Daniel disapproved.

Quiet returned after the argument, but Lila was wide awake when the knock came at the door. Daniel slid out of bed and went to open it. She caught a glimpse of Riley, Harley, and Dutch standing outside. Daniel spoke to them for a moment, his voice low but hissing with displeasure.

“What happened?” Lila asked when Daniel returned.

“There’s been an accident. Harley’s handling it. They’ll need your help when they get back.”

“An accident? What kind of accident?”

“Riley and Stella got into an argument. Stella fell and hit her head on the bathroom sink. I’m afraid she’s dead.”

“Oh, my God!”