Page 92 of Sworn to Protect

“Oh, honey, you don’t know?” She places a hand on my forearm and lowers her voice. “Nate skipped town last night.”

The world tips sideways.

“He left?” I rasp. “After our argument?”

Linda nods sympathetically. “Mmm-hmm. Packed up and drove off. Guess there’s no chance of rekindling that relationship now, huh?”

Her words are a blade, twisting deep. Did I drive him away?

I shake my head, refusing to let her see my unraveling. “We, uh, broke up a few nights ago.”

My lips flatten into a thin, emotionless line evenas something fractures inside me. I step backward, inching toward my car, desperate to escape her grip and the suffocating weight of this moment.

Linda’s expression morphs into mock sympathy. “Shame. He wasmightyfine. All the girls wanted to line up and have surgery if you know what I mean.”

I don’t. And I don’t want to.

If I don’t get out of here, I’m going to lose it.

“I have to pick up my boys,” I say, voice tight. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Oh, okay. If you need anything, let me know. I’m just a phone call away.”

Ibetyou are.

I nod, force a smile, and bolt to my car.

But I need to see for myself.

By the time I pull into The Cabins, my hands are shaking. He wouldn’t leave.

Not like this.

My feet pound against the pavement as I race to room seven. Our room.Please be here. Please.

But I freeze at the sight in front of me.

The door is wide open. The bed stripped.

Mrs. Overly stands inside, vacuuming.

I step backward, my pulse a deafening roar in my ears. No. No. No.

He’s gone.

He’s actually gone.

My entire world slips out from under me. And for the first time since I lost Ethan, I truly feel alone.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

MACKENZIE

“Mom, what are you doing here?”

The cool morning breeze swirls around us as I open the front door. Mom never stops by unannounced unless it’s to defend Jordan. I brace myself.

Instead, she shifts on her feet, fingers twisting the straps of her purse. “Since the boys don’t have school, I thought I’d pick them up. Give you time to study.”

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