When Neve Shepherd had disappeared in the river after the 1996 prom, he and Troy had driven their pickup back and forth along the river bank with Trey at the wheel, shining their headlights in the water for an hour, trying to find her. Trey had driven with huge skill. He hadn’t wanted to give up. He’d hated that neither he nor anyone else had managed to save her.

As long as he lived, he’d promised McKenna, no one would hurt her.

As long as he lived, he’d vowed over and over, she’d be fine.

And she’d believed him.

She’d felt so safe with him…

McKenna turned her head away and stared out the window again, unable to see anything through the hot tears blurring her vision.

She’d once loved him so much. He’d been her everything.

McKenna blinked back the tears. “I hate you,” she whispered. “I hate you, Trey Sheenan.”

He was silent a long moment and then he sighed. “As you should.”

Chapter Six

‡‡

They drove through Livingston, and continued north for nearly another hour, the highway a dark ribbon beneath the rising moon. TJ broke the silence to ask if he could play a game on McKenna’s phone.

“I don’t have my phone, TJ,” she answered.

“It’s not in your purse?”

“I don’t have my purse.” She shot Trey a glance. “I don’t have anything but what I’m wearing.”

TJ was silent a moment, processing, and then he looked at Trey. “Do you have games on your phone?” he asked hopefully.

Trey grimaced. “I don’t have a phone.”

TJ’s brow creased. “Here?”

“At all.” He looked down at TJ. “You can’t have one where I was.”

“Ah.” TJ pursed his lips and thought about this for a few seconds. “But you’re out now. Don’t you want one?”

“Yes. I just haven’t had time to get one.”

“Didn’t you have one from before?”

“I did. But it’s old now. Technology changed while I was away.”

TJ nodded. “There’s a new iPhone out now, you know. Mom wouldn’t get it though. She said her old one still works. But I’d like one—”

“How do you know all this?”

“Commercials. TV.” TJ shrugged nonchalantly. “And from Mom and Lawrence talking. He wanted to get Mom a new phone but she said no.”

Trey glanced down at TJ again. “Are all five year olds as smart as you?”

TJ thought about it a minute then shrugged. “Some. Some aren’t.” He thought about it some more. “Lawrence thinks I’m too smart.