Page 126 of Enthrall Shadows
“If you hear shots, turn the boat around. Understand?”
“No, I won’t.”
“That’s an order.”
“Fuck off.”
“It’ll be fine,” I said.
My gut was telling me this was it—these coordinates had led us to this exact checkpoint.
After securing the boat to the wooden post, I stepped onto the jetty and gave Lotte a reassuring nod.
“Wait!” She handed me a bottle of water. “How do you feel about seeing her again?” she blurted out nervously.
How did I feel?
Seeing Reese after all these years would feel surreal. Seeing her alive would be cathartic.
All the guilt I’d held on to could finally be released.
Familiar memories flooded my thoughts.
Lotte would be safe. She was my priority. Moving forward, I would make this up to her, prove I could protect her.
Going on alone was my way of letting her see that.
Her compassion, kindness and strength were all remarkable gifts I’d not take for granted.
She gave me a thumbs-up, face bright with understanding.
I strolled along the wooden slats toward the opening in the trees.
Iwaited for a few minutes—which felt like a lifetime—for Henry to reappear to tell me we were safe.
I’d never been good at following orders, and I refused to let him walk into danger alone. We’d come too far for that to happen. He’d be pissed off if I disobeyed, but he’d have to get over himself. I’d always listened to my intuition.
And right now that small, quiet voice was telling me to follow him.
Huffing with exertion, I hoisted Henry’s rucksack and threw it onto the wooden slats of the dock, straining my back.
Gripping the wooden pillar, I climbed out of the boat.
I slid my arms into the straps of the rucksack and shrugged it on, immediately staggering backwards.
Whoa!
I almost tipped over into the water.
Great.Getting eaten by a gator would be totally embarrassing at this point. And taking his kit with me would literally doom my spirit to purgatory.
Leaning forward to tolerate the weight of his kit, I huffed at its weight. Henry made lifting it look so effortless.
I trudged after him, walking face first into a cobweb.
I frantically brushed the sticky strands out of my face, hoping nothing fell on me.
And then I saw Henry.
