Page 128 of Nothing But Air

Eden had spent days accusing Teague of being reckless.

Turned out she’d invited a murderer on the expedition. So there was that.

Three years. She’d known Kyle for three years. And somehow she’d missed the part where he’d become a psychopath.

Her judgment was really something.

Storm clouds gathered above, turning the sky dark and angry. Thunder rumbled closer as if warning what was to come. The air had that heavy, electric quality that came before a deluge as the wind picked up.

Teague made his way down the cliff face, the pack noticeably heavier with Roosevelt’s gold throwing off his balance. Each move looked awkward. Dangerous. His ribs had to be screaming—she could see the careful way he held himself, the tension in his shoulders, the way he paused too long between placements.

And behind her, Kyle stood with a gun pressed against her lower back.

“So.” His voice dropped lower as he leaned in. “I can’t believe after all this time, we can finally do this. I’ve been thinking about where we should go first.”

Eden’s stomach clenched. “What?”

“I was thinking Costa Rica initially.” He said it as if they were discussing vacation plans and he didn’t have a gun pointed at her back. “Somewhere we can blend in while we figure out the next step.” A pause. His voice dropping low. Familiar. “You always said you wanted to see the cloud forests, remember?”

Her blood ran cold.

She had said that. Once. Years ago. At a dinner with Landon and Kyle, talking about dream destinations over Thai food. But why would she go anywhere with him after this?

She drew a slow breath and tried to keep her voice calm, her eyes still fixed on Teague’s descent. “Kyle, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t have to pretend anymore.” His voice held understanding. Patience. The kind of tone you’d use with a frightened child. “No one can hear what we’re discussing.”

“What are we discussing?”

“Us. Finally being together. You’ve been so careful.” Admiration crept into his voice now. Pride. “The way you handled everything after Landon died. Disappearing for two years. At first I thought maybe you’d changed your mind about us, but then I realized—you were being smart. You didn’t even leave a clue where you’d gone, so no one would connect us. And letting just enough time to pass so no one would suspect.”

“Suspect what?” But even as she asked, something cold formed in her chest, a terrible suspicion taking shape.

“His cam.” Kyle’s voice was casual. Conversational. As if he were discussing the weather. “I filed down the teeth just enough that they’d fail under the right load. Wasn’t hard—he always left his gear in the equipment room overnight. I just had to wait for the right day. The right climb.”

The world stopped.

Everything went silent—the wind, the growing thunder, Teague’s movements above. There was only Kyle’s voice, still talking, and the roaring in her ears.

“You killed him.”

“I freed us.” Kyle’s voice held conviction. Certainty. “He was in the way, Eden. He had you and he didn’t even appreciate it. Didn’t see how perfect we’d be together. You tried to show him—taking my side, including me, making him see that I mattered. But he just got annoyed. Got possessive.”

A pause.

“So I removed the obstacle. I knew it was what you wanted.”

“Kyle.” Eden fought to keep her voice steady. “I never wanted Landon dead.”

“I know you couldn’t be direct about it.” His hand touched her shoulder. Gentle. Almost tender. “But I understood what your actions meant.”

“What actions? When?”

“Like that time at the climbing gym when you took my side about the new route setting. Landon wanted to keep the old routes, but you said I was right—that we needed to change things up.” His voice warmed with memory. “You were telling me you saw me. That you valued my opinion more than his.”

Eden’s mind reeled.

She’d agreed with Kyle about the routes because he’d looked hurt that Landon had dismissed his suggestion. She’d been trying to include him. To make sure he didn’t feel like a third wheel.