Chapter 53

CHAPTER

FIFTY-THREE

Kai watched as Alfie stepped closer.

"Stay right there!" Kai shouted.

"I don't think you're in a position to call any shots."

"That's debatable," Kai said.

Alfie's gaze focused on something behind him, and he squinted. "You're alive, Stephen? I thought we'd finished you off?"

"You tried." Stephen touched his chest. "But you failed."

"It's not too late to finish what we started." Alfie's eyes glimmered.

"You were involved with this the whole time?" Kai asked. "You were a part of Landon's death, weren't you? In fact, you're probably the one who killed him and arranged that video so we would look as if we were guilty instead of you."

His smirk was all the answer they needed.

"Why?" Kai asked. "Why are you doing all of this?"

"Because people started asking too many questions. Got too many people involved. All Nathan and his friend had to do was leave this alone. But they couldn't do that. Then you guys had to get involved. You don't understand the extents we'll go through to keep our secrets quiet."

"You're just being used as a puppet."

Alfie scowled. "You have no idea."

"I'd say I do," Kai said. "Because we're in the same boat. You think you have the upper hand, but you don't. We're all being controlled."

"Stop talking!" Alfie sliced his hand through the air. "Rafferty has a plan, and we're just following orders. In the end, it will all be worth it."

"Why are you here?" Kai asked. "You could have stopped our hearts if you wanted to kill us."

The smirk returned to Alfie's gaze. "There's been a change of plan. We wanted to give you a chance to come to the dark side. Or the right side as we like to call it."

Kai practically snorted. "No way is that happening."

Alfie cocked his head. "Fine then. Have it your way."

Then shots began to fly through the air.

As gunfire sounded, Tori's heart lurched into her throat.

No! What if Kai had just been hurt? If any of them had been hurt?

She, Larchmont, and Trevor were skirting the edge of the trees, but the cabin was close enough to see. However, she had no idea what was happening behind those walls.

"Should we call for more backup?" Tori asked Larchmont.

He shook his head. "There's no time. Stay behind me, though, okay?"

She nodded even though she almost felt numb with panic.

"We don't know how many people might be inside. Could be one. It could be many more. But we need to be on guard. The element of surprise is going to be our friend. I don't think that whoever is inside will expect us to come back."

All she could think about was Kai. She imagined his lifeless body on the floor, and it nearly broke her heart to picture that.

Stay positive, she told herself. Thinking in worst-case scenarios won't get you anywhere.

A rumble of nerves swept through her. She was in way over her head right now.

Still, they crept forward. As they reached the edge of the woods, Larchmont nodded back at them.

When he motioned, they ran toward the cabin. Pressed themselves against the walls there.

Larchmont took the lead, Trevor behind him.

Tori gripped her gun with one hand and the defibrillator with the other.

She prayed she wouldn't have to use this, but she wanted it close, just in case.

As they approached the door, more gunfire rang out, followed by shouts.

Whatever was going on in there . . . it was bad. Really bad.

Even though she was terrified, she knew she had to get in there and help . . . before it was too late.