Summer Rental

CONTENTSPraise for Bestselling Author Rektok RossAlso by Rektok RossTitle PageCopyrightDedicationEpigraphChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21EpilogueConnect More With RektokAuthor’s Note to the ReaderExcerpt from Ski WeekendAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author Rektok Ross offers “readers genuinely diverse characters, each of whom continues to grow throughout the narrative… Brace for impact readers, [Ross] holds little back.”—Kirkus ReviewsRektok Ross has “inborn talent for the kind of narrative driven storytelling that makes for a compulsive page turning read from cover to cover… Unreservedly recommended…”—Midwest Book Review“If you like action, suspense, and the horror real life can sometimes dish out, you can’t go wrong… Rektok Ross delivers!”—Reader Views“[Ross] does a great job of making you care for [her] characters, keeps you guessing, and [gives] lots of chills.”—Double the BooksRektok Ross is “an exciting addition to the YA scene.”—Evelyn Skye, New York Times best-selling author of The Crown’s Game *Winner of the WILLA Literary Awards, San Francisco Book Festival Awards, National Indie Excellence Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Independent Press Awards, Reader Views Literary Awards, CIBA Dante Rossetti Book Awards, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, American Fiction Awards, IAN Book of the Year Awards, and Firebird Awards!*Named a Best Book of the Year by Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Yahoo!Life, Parade, Brit + Co., Book Riot, J-14, The Strand, She Reads, and more!“This is a suspenseful book that had me thoroughly hooked from page one… The emotional journey of Ski Weekend is relentless…”—Readers’ Favorite“Rektok Ross delivers an absolute dynamic story packed with goofy teens, heart-stopping moments, romantic tension, and one adorable pup in this adrenaline-filled survival story.”—BooknBrunch“Rektok Ross thrills readers with an electrifying winter tale that will have you wondering if that snow-filled adventure you’ve been planning is worth risking your life!”—Key Biscayne Magazine“A pacey thriller with moments of great tenderness—and spine-chilling horror.”—Lauren Kate, New York Times best-selling author of Fallen“A nail-biter with some surprising moments. Recommended for high school and YA collections.”—School Library Journal“Hand this to students who like thrillers and books about survival!”—Youth Services Book Review“Constantly twisting and emotionally relentless, Ski Weekend is a story of survival, friendship, and family… Alternately heartbreaking and hopeful—a chilling, thrilling read.”—Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, bestselling author of The Girls Are All So Nice Here“This book will send so many chills up your spine, you’ll feel like you’re alongside the snowbound characters. The only time I don’t recommend reading this book is right before bed. You won’t be able to sleep, and you won’t want to.”—Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of Rayne & Delilah’s Midnight Matinee“All the intensity and thrills of The Hunger Games packed into one car over a snowy weekend. Secrets, lies, strong characters, and twists will keep readers turning pages. If you’ve ever wondered how far you would go to survive, you need to read this book.”—Eileen Cook, author of You Owe Me a Murder“Ripped from the headlines, Ski Weekend is so real you’ll be shivering with the characters, fighting the elements, and asking yourself—what would you be willing to do to survive? Forget Netflix and chill. Binge this book.”—Sorboni Banerjee, Emmy Award–winning journalist and author of Red as Blood“Ross weaves a stirring tale where each of her characters wrestle with choices that could Ski WeekendSummer Rental*See all of Rektok Ross’s books and find where to get them on her website at:www.RektokRoss.com*NEVER MISS A RELEASE.Get exclusive giveaways, review copies, and enter to win free gifts and more by subscribing to Rektok Ross’s newsletter:www.RektokRoss.com Copyright © 2023 Rektok RossAll rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission from the publisher.This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.Published by Ic13 BooksWilmington, Delaware, USA, 19808www.Ic13Books.comIc13 Books name and the Ic13 Books logo are trademarks ofIc13 Books or its affiliates.Published 2023Printed in the United States of AmericaPrint ISBN: 978-0-9882568-2-8E-ISBN: 978-0-9882568-3-5Library of Congress Control Number: 2023935087Cover design by Dane Low and teamInterior design by Leila Pullen For those who dream big and never never give up. Revenge is a dish best served cold.—French Proverb DAY 1: Thursday—Three days before July FourthI t isn’t supposed to rain in paradise.At least, that’s what the sign said when we turned off the highway and onto the rickety, two-lane bridge moments ago. It was painted a bright tropical yellow and read, “Palm Key Island: it’s always sunny here!” Naturally, the “i” was dotted with an orange.As I watch the rain fall from my cramped middle seat in the back of the SUV—the absolute worst spot in the car, of course—I tell myself it’s just one of those quick summer showers we get in Florida. It won’t last long. They never do. But when we pull up to the driveway of our rental home for the weekend and the rain still hasn’t stopped, I start to worry.We all hop out of the car and I eye the dark, ominous clouds with growing concern. The five of us hold jackets and sweatshirts over our heads and rush to grab luggage from the cargo area of Cam and Val’s brand-new Range Rover. It’s just one of the lavish gifts the twins received from their parents at graduation a few weeks ago.“Just a little rain, everybody,” Cam says