Page 81 of Her Nightshade

Callan didn’t respond at first, carefully moving Jake’s body to line him up with the rug. He eyed me carefully as I began to help. “Let’s just say I’ve cleaned up messes like this. Now stop wasting time yapping and help me get this done.”

29

Ana

Jake could hurt me, threaten me, all he wanted. But when he brought Sloane into this, when he threatened her, something inside me snapped. The rage surged so quickly, so fiercely, that I didn’t even think. Swinging the heavy ceramic vase at his head with all my strength, with all that adrenaline built up, was easy. He went down fast, and we had a chance to run.

I didn’t know if it would kill him, and in that moment, I didn’t care. All that mattered was getting Sloane out, away from him. Now we were on the highway, heading towards D.C., the lights of passing cars flickering through the windows.

“Charlie and Callan are next door. They heard what was happening. They should be there by now,” Sloane had explained as we sped off. Relief had flooded through me.

But now, my mind was racing again, replaying everything. “How did this all happen?” I asked, breaking the silence. “How did you know? Did Charlie come to you?”

Sloane shook her head. “No,” she said simply. “He went to Callan.”

I blinked, stunned. Charlie had put aside his ego to ask Callan for help. It made sense—if anyone could help him, it was Callan—but it still surprised me. Charlie hated him. The fact that they worked together for me made my chest ache in a way I couldn’t describe.

“And…did you already know about Callan?” I asked hesitantly, piecing everything together.

She hesitated, her voice quieter when she spoke. “Yeah. I found out when I came home one day and he was passed out. I could smell the booze all over him.” She paused, exhaling slowly. “It’s been hard, but he’s getting help. Slowly, but surely.”

My heart ached for them both. “Callan’s a good man, baby,” I said softly. “He’s strong. And so are you. You’ll get through it.”

“I know,” she said, and the quiet confidence in her voice made me smile.

The highway stretched endlessly ahead, the hum of the engine filling the silence between us. We were in the car I used back in the day, back when we still lived in New York as a family. It was a reliable little Jetta, and it felt odd speeding down the highway after all these years.

“Mi diosa, huh?” Sloane teased suddenly, and my cheeks burned hot.

I shook my head with a soft laugh. “Yeah. So what?”

She giggled, the sound light and warm. “It makes all the sense in the world.”

The silence returned, but this time it wasn’t heavy.

“What do you think they’re doing to him?” I asked quietly after a while. “Do you think they’re really only talking to him?”

Sloane sighed deeply, staring ahead. “I don’t want to know. And, honestly…Dad deserves whatever’s coming to him.”

I swallowed hard, staring out at the darkness beyond the window. “Yeah,” I said softly. “He does.”

But even as I said it, my mind turned back to Charlie. To what might be happening right now. And no matter how much I tried to push the thoughts away, I couldn’t help but wonder just how far he’d go to make sure I was safe.

* * *

We waited hours at the hotel in D.C. I stared out the window and could see faint morning light as the sun got ready to rise. Sloane had fallen asleep, drifting off as I held her close to me, cuddling like we used to when she was little. But my mind couldn’t stop running, couldn’t stop wondering where they were and what they were doing.

I jumped when I heard the sound of the key card unlocking the door, but it only opened slightly ajar since I had flipped on the security lock. I hurried over to the door, peeking out at Callan and Charlie, their faces withdrawn and exhausted. I unlocked the door and flung it open, wrapping Charlie in my arms, the sobs that I held back for hours finally escaping as he held me tight.

“Ana,” he whispered into my neck. “My love.”

“Where have you been?” I asked, slightly letting go to reach my gaze to his.

He blinked, hesitation in his eyes. “Just making sure Jake wouldn’t talk,” he said simply.

I only nodded. I turned to see Callan and Sloane reuniting, then turned back to see Charlie holding up a key card in his hand. “We have the adjoining room. Let’s go.”

Charlie started a hot shower, undressing alongside me. I noticed a faint dark spot on his jeans and he looked down as he realized where my gaze pointed to.

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