Page 76 of Her Nightshade

“Yeah, it’s me,” he said, his voice oozing pride. “Your mom and I are at the lake house. We’re…we’re trying to reconcile.” He looked at me, smirking like a predator who’d cornered his prey.

I hate you.

“Really? Mom?” Sloane asked, clearly confused.

I swallowed hard. “Yeah,” I murmured. “It’s…it’s complicated, baby. But your dad and I—” I hesitated, looking away. “We have twenty years of history. That’s a lot to just throw away.”

The words felt like poison on my tongue, but I knew it was what Jake wanted me to say.

“What about…what about Charlie?” she asked hesitantly.

Shame and embarrassment burned through me, even though none of this was my fault. “He was too much, baby,” I said quietly, each word stabbing at my heart. “I think we all knew that.”

Sloane sighed, as if disappointed. “Well…I mean—”

“You’re welcome to come stay with us here at the lake house, honey,” Jake interrupted, his tone feigning kindness. “Get away for a bit. We can be like a family again.”

I rolled my eyes, my face hot with anger and humiliation. But the idea of having Sloane here gave me a glimmer of hope. At least I wouldn’t be alone with him anymore. I only hoped he wouldn’t turn on her.But he wouldn’t do that to his own daughter…

“Um…” Sloane hesitated. “I don’t know.”

“I think it would be nice, baby,” I chimed in. “It’s a chance for us to reconnect as a family.”

Jake shot me a cautious look, but my words seemed to seal the deal. Sloane sighed again before finally giving in.

“Okay. Alright, yeah. I’ll take the next flight out,” she said.

Thank God.

“Let me know your flight details, honey,” Jake said smoothly. “If you need me to, I’ll have someone pick you up from the airport and bring you home.”

The wordhomesliced through me like a dagger, but I bit back my response, forcing myself to stay quiet. Instead, I focused on the only thing that mattered: silently forming a plan to get us out of this.

* * *

The lake house was eerily quiet as I stood by the window that night, watching the driveway for Sloane’s arrival. Jake was in the kitchen, pouring drinks, his earlier threat still echoing in my mind.

“If you eventhinkabout telling her, Charlie will be dead in an instant,” he had said, his voice low and venomous. “She doesn’t need to know anything. Do you understand me?”

I nodded stiffly, my stomach churning as his words settled over me like a dark cloud.

Now, as the black SUV pulled up and Sloane stepped out, a flood of relief and fear rushed through me. I had to be careful for her sake.

She spotted me in the window and waved, her face lighting up with a hesitant smile. I forced myself to smile back, though it felt like my face might crack from the effort.

The front door opened and she was in my arms within seconds, hugging me tightly.

“Mom,” she murmured, her voice trembling.

“I’m so glad you’re here, baby,” I said, my arms wrapping around her as if I could shield her from everything going on.

Jake appeared in the doorway, his smile wide and disarmingly warm. “Sloane! Hi honey. You’ve grown so much since I’ve last seen you.”

She pulled back from me, her expression guarded as she looked at him. “Hi, Dad,” she said, her tone polite but distant.

“Come on, let’s get your bags inside,” Jake said excitedly. “We’ll have dinner and catch up.”

The table was set with candles and an assortment of dishes Jake had ordered in, his attempt at playing the doting husband and father. Sloane sat across from me, her eyes darting between me and Jake, as though trying to figure us out.

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