Page 67 of Her Nightshade

The cycle of my thoughts was suffocating, my chest tightening with the outcome of the impossible decision. Every option led to ruin, every path riddled with danger. And yet, somehow, I had to choose one. For Charlie. For Sloane. For all of us.

* * *

It was only a week before Charlie’s tour started. We made love for hours, each touch and kiss more desperate than the last, as if we both knew we were running out of time. The intensity grew with every moment, our emotions spilling out in a tangle of passion and grief. When it was over, he lay beside me, his face buried in my neck like he couldn’t bear to let go.

But eventually, he had to. With trembling hands, Charlie packed a bag, his movements slow, as if each item he placed inside was a piece of his heart he was leaving behind. I stood by the door, watching helplessly as he zipped it closed and slung it over his shoulder.

“I’m coming back to you, Charlie,” I whispered, my voice cracking as I clutched his face in my hands. “Please don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone. Please.”

His eyes glistened with unshed tears, his jaw tightening as he nodded. “I’ll be waiting,mi diosa.”

The elevator doors opened and he stepped inside. He turned to look at me one last time, his composure barely holding, before the doors slid shut, cutting us off.

I stood frozen, staring at the closed elevator, my chest heaving.I’m sorry, Charlie. I’m so sorry.

I knew Jake had to be watching. Or if not him, then one of his people. He would want proof that I had done as he demanded. Every moment I had shared with Charlie had likely been under their surveillance. The thought made my stomach turn, but Iforced myself to stay calm. I waited ten minutes, pacing the length of my apartment as my heart raced, before finally picking up my phone and dialing Jake’s number.

He answered on the first ring. “Ana,” he said smoothly, his voice oozing triumph.

I swallowed hard. “I did it,” I said, my tone flat. “He’s gone, Jake. You won.”

There was a pause and I could almost hear the smirk in his voice when he replied. “Good girl, Ana. I’ll send a car over for you.”

I ended the call without another word, my hand trembling as I lowered the phone. The weight of what I’d just done settled heavily on my chest, but I couldn’t break down—not now. Not yet.

One step closer,I told myself, though the thought offered little comfort.

An hour later, a sleek black SUV was idling at the curb. I hesitated before getting in, clutching a small travel bag like it was the last piece of stability I had. The driver was someone new, silent and professional, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. I didn’t bother making small talk. My thoughts were too scattered, my chest too tight as the lights of the city faded behind me.

We headed south towards the lake house in Maryland. The same house I once tried to escape to when I learned of Jake’s betrayal. Now, it felt cruelly fitting that I was heading there again, this time to betray Charlie.

No. You’re not betraying him.You’re saving him.

But the mantra did little to soothe the gnawing guilt. I promised Charlie I wouldn’t let Jake touch me, that I would hold firm. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t that simple. Jake’s texts had been laced with reminders of our past, of the passion we once shared, and I wasn’t naive enough to think he wouldn’t push for more.

My phone vibrated relentlessly in my bag, pulling me from my thoughts. Charlie’s name flashed across the screen over and over, and each time I saw it, my chest tightened.

Stop, Charlie. Please stop.

I typed out a quick reply, my fingers shaking.You have to trust me. I’ll call you when it’s safe.I deleted his messages to erase any evidence Jake might look for.

When the car finally pulled up to the lakefront property, I felt a wave of bittersweet nostalgia. The house was as beautiful as I remembered—large, bright, with its glass windows glowing warmly in the night. It was a place of so many good memories, now irreversibly tainted.

Jake was already waiting. His shadow moved towards the door as we pulled in, tall and confident as ever. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly styled, his sleeves rolled up casually, and his hands rested just inside the front pockets of his jeans. His light eyes, once so familiar, almost betrayed a softness, though I knew better.

“Ana,” he greeted warmly, a smug smile on his lips.

“Jacob,” I replied curtly, my tone sharper than I intended.Careful, Ana.I couldn’t afford to be this defensive yet.

His eyes swept over me, lingering in ways that made my skin crawl. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it? You look better than ever,” he said with a hint of self-satisfaction.

I swallowed hard, biting back the retort that sprang to my tongue.It’s because I got rid of you.Instead, I forced a tight smile, letting him believe he had power over me.

“Come in,” he said smoothly, gesturing towards the open door. “I’ve just opened a bottle of wine. Your favorite.”

I hesitated briefly, my hands tightening around my coat. Then, with a deep breath, I walked past him and into the house. The familiar scent hit me immediately—clean wood, faint cologne, and the past I tried to leave behind.

I shrugged off my peacoat, hanging it on the coat rack, and made my way to the kitchen. I needed the wine—anything to steady my nerves. The dark hardwood floors of the hall creaked slightly as I made my way further into the house. I walked through the living room, everything looking exactly as it was the last time we were here; the built-in bookshelves lining the walls, books overflowing throughout. The couches nestled atop a cozy rug, one I had picked out with Sloane when she was little. My heart ached.I need to focus.

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