Destined (The Rangers of Ridge County #1)

Chapter Forty

CHAPTER FORTY

REDACTED

T he dated television hummed in front of me—its screen full of static as I approached with my home video in hand.

The buzzing bounced off the walls of the darkened lobby as the VCR rewound the cassette. Once it was done, Millie Rushing appeared on the screen—the sight of her covered in our blood sending a thrill through me.

Things might not have gone according to plan, but at least I had this little souvenir.

Reaching into the desk drawer, I felt around for the gloves that now fit like a second skin.

But the chime of the door had me reluctantly pushing the drawer shut and muting the small screen only I could see. This was why I preferred to watch my videos in private. Irritated, I looked up to find an older couple making their way toward me. Their smiles dimmed at the scowl I didn’t bother wiping from my face.

“We’d like to book a room,” the man said, pushing his glasses up and squinting in my general direction.

I grunted at the request, eyeing Millie in my periphery. Her back was to my vintage camcorder as she moved in the direction of the woods. I hadn’t bothered stalking after her, more focused on capturing the moment so I could relive it again and again. But I could see the terror in her stride—the fear. Was I right behind her?

Run, Little Rabbit, run .

The man stole my attention once more as he fished around in his pocket then held a card out. The prickle of annoyance gave way to anger as I snatched the gold plated rectangle from his grasp.

I couldn’t understand why people stopped here. It didn’t scream luxury.

I felt the tug of my lips as they cracked, stretching into a grin.

No. The only thing this place screamed was death.