Beginnings (Lost Town Book Four) by Nathan Hystad

Author:Nathan Hystad [Hystad, Nathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Woodbridge Press
Published: 2025-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

2

“Why should we trust you?” Carly shouted at Christine.

They’d abandoned the flipped van and its corpses. Summer imagined someone had crossed paths with the accident, and the police were likely speeding toward the scene.

“Can I go home?” Alex asked.

Christine drove the dented truck a few miles, then motioned to a second vehicle. “Everyone out.”

“Who are you?” Brendan Gray asked.

“The person who just saved your ass, that’s who,” Christine told him. “Now get into the SUV and shut up.”

They looked at Summer for guidance. It was either go with Caesar’s ex-wife or wait for these goons to scour Bend in search of them. She’d witnessed a few moments of empathy from this woman, but also quite the opposite. Christine was a cold-blooded killer, and that could be exactly what they needed.

“We’re coming.” Summer climbed in, taking the passenger seat; then the rest filed in the back.

Alex lingered on the street. “I can call a rideshare…or my mom.”

“Inside,” Christine grunted.

“It’ll be okay,” Summer assured the girl.

“Who are you guys?” Alex asked, setting her pack on her lap when buckled in. They’d learned their lesson about seatbelts a few minutes ago.

“You may as well tell her the truth, since she’s seen me shoot someone,” Christine said. She started the SUV, shoulder-checked, then gunned it.

“We already mentioned the part about Carmichael,” Carly said.

Christine’s gaze flicked to watch Summer in the rearview mirror. “Is that so?”

“Where did you come from?” Summer blurted. “I’m glad you showed up, but how do we know you’re on our side?”

“You don’t.” Christine’s answer left Summer’s stomach in knots. They had no guns. Carly’s phone was in the upended van, and judging by the rattling in Alex’s backpack, her laptop was busted. “I heard one of the bosses caught wind of Arcadia. I’m not sure who caved, but it was before that idiot Vince shared his story with the world. I guess you two were the easiest to track, since even this dipshit found you before me.”

“Hey,” Brendan Gray said from the back, with Alex squished in the middle. Carly’s upper lip had blood drying on it, and she touched her nose, wincing.

A steady stream of police cars sped to the site of the accident from the north. Christine pulled over, giving them ample space on the narrow road. When the last emergency vehicle passed, she turned into a residential neighborhood and headed to the freeway. She looked in both directions, probably pondering her next move. It unsettled Summer that the person supposedly in charge was so unsure of their steps.

“We have to go to Brendan’s hotel room!” Carly bellowed.

“Why? Did you forget your diary?” Christine asked with her usual level of charm.

“Harrison told us to wait for Larry there.”

“Larry…” Christine rubbed her temple and took the exit south. “This should be fun.”

“You know him?” Summer asked.

“Let’s say we’ve been to the same dances, but stayed on opposite sides of the gym,” Christine answered.

Somehow Summer imagined the cast of agents at a school event, dressed in too-big suits and ruffled dresses.

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