Page 61 of From the Shadows

Her voice is shaky, not nearly as strong as normal. “Snakes. Hundreds of them, maybe. I don’t know. I can’t look again.”

I don’t know that I’ve ever heard her say the word before now, and it sounds so wrong when she does. I lower my tone and force calm into my voice. “Tell me, baby. Are they like the ones we’ve seen at your place before?”

“No.”

“On the patio or are they somewhere else?”

She whimpers, and I swear it sounds like she gags. “In… in my house.” The last word is whispered so quietly, I almost miss it. But it registers in my soul, and I fucking move.

“Jess, I’m coming. I’ll be there in just a minute, okay? Can you get out of the house? Go out the front?”

“I’m scared.”

And that breaks me. I yell over my shoulder to whomever is listening, “I have to get Jess out of there. Find my fucking daughter.”

The decision is a terrible one and rescuing a grown bad-ass woman when a helpless child is in peril makes no sense. None. But until we know any hint about Evie’s whereabouts, I’m fucking useless. Those are the things Teague and his team run. I have no skills to contribute, and I can’t sit here and do nothing.

My phone connects to Bluetooth, and I talk to Jess as I race through the streets to get to her. I pull up in front of her house and shove an ear bud in my ear so I can continue to talk to her, to reassure her. “Okay, baby, I’m here. Can you come to the front door? There’s nothing out here but me.”

Clouds gather around the sun and cast an eerie glow over the landscaping.

I glance to my left, leaves rustling in a distinctive pattern in the shrubbery at the far corner of the house. Little lies make for big saves sometimes, and what she doesn’t know is better for both of us right now.

“I can’t,” she whispers. “I’m so scared.”

“I’m coming in. If I have to break this door down, I will. I need you out of there, need to know you’re safe. You ready?” With as secure as she keeps her property, I honestly don’t know how I’m going to get in, only that I have to. Nothing will keep me away from her. “Count with me, baby. I’m going to need your strength to get through this. We can do it together. Ready? One. Two. I’m hitting on three.” I brace, prepare for impact, and slam my shoulder against the door. It gives, but barely. I do it again. And again. And again.

“Eddie?”

“Yeah, Jess. That’s me. Couple more times, and I’ll be in.” I slam into the door again with everything I have, and the frame splinters, finally granting me access. “Where are you,” I call out, hearing my voice echoed back at me from the rear entryway. I disconnect the call to clear the line for Teague as I rush through the house toward her.

What greets me almost has me dropping to my knees except keeping my shit tight is a benefit to both of us. The air is tinged with the smell of sick and desperation. The floor is littered with broken knives with one imbedded in the floor through the head of a vomit-covered viper.

And Jess… Jess has her back to the wall, knees pulled up close, and a shiny yellow rubber boot clutched in her arms like she’s using it for a puke bucket.

“Baby?” I hold my hand out to her like she’s a skittish woodland animal ready to bolt. Except she’s not, because she is paralyzed with fear.

Tears streak her face, and her lips are trembling. She’s shaking violently, her knuckles white with the force she’s using to grip her phone.

I crouch down, gaze darting to every crevice, corner, and shadow. Looking. Searching. Ensuring there are no other snakes lying in wait. I slide the block of wood holding her remaining kitchen knives out of reach.

“Look at how brave you are,” I tell her, keeping my voice low and soothing. I hope it’s fucking soothing to her, because I’m struggling. “Are there others inside?” Her head shake is nearly imperceptible, and her eyes never leave the dead snake. “Okay. We’re going to get you up off the floor and out of here. Let me take your phone.”

She flinches at first touch but with some prodding relaxes and relinquishes the device for me to tuck into my pocket with my own. The boot is surrendered much more easily, and it is, in fact, filled with vomit. I set it down as far away as I can manage without leaving her side.

“Oh, baby. You’re safe now. I’ve got you.” I slide an arm behind her back and the other under her knees, pulling her close to my chest as I stand.

There are things I should grab for her since the house is no longer secure, but I’m not sure either of us care in the moment.

Jess takes a shuddering breath and buries her face against my chest, eyes squeezed tight. Tension has a firm grasp on her body, holding her captive but she’s at least willing to give over her vigil and trust that I’ve got her.

I stalk through the house and out to my vehicle, giving the innocent garter snake that threatens to cross my path a gentle nudge in the other direction with the toe of my dress Oxford.

Sure that I was subtle in doing so, it takes me by complete surprise when Jess croaks out, “You have to burn those now. They have snake juice on them.” She bounces against my chest with my laughter.

And while there are probably much better times to say it, “God, I love you,” spills from my lips as I tuck her into the front seat of my vehicle as the first drops of rain fall from the sky.

I close her in and detour to peer over the fence to the back. Bins and plastic totes litter the driveway as if cast aside after being relieved of their contents in a rush. I don’t take the time to count, but there are a fucking lot of them.