Page 76 of The Stolen Dagger
Holding my breath, I carefully turned the ring in the latch clockwise until aclacksounded. With my thumb, I pushed up the latch connected to the lid of the box and opened it all the way, revealing a small dagger that glinted inside.
Holy shit.
The dagger laid diagonally on the black velvet lining in the box. Red and gold jewels adorned its cream-colored handle.
Almost too afraid to even touch the infamous dagger, I gently curled my hand around the base of the weapon that sparkled with rubies.
Setting down the box, I touched my fingertip to the point of the stout silver blade. Expecting it to be blunt, I gasped and pulled my finger back as a bead of blood gathered from the prick.
If it was sharp enough to pierce my skin from barely any pressure to it, I could only imagine what it could do if used with force.
Sucking the drop of blood off my finger, I placed the dagger back into the box with indignation.
This is it? This is what’s so important? This is what everyone is willing to kill for?
I scoffed. How could such a small object cause such chaos in the wrong hands?
A muffled thump sounded downstairs. I startled and looked over my shoulder through the room’s open doorway and into the empty hallway. Footsteps sounded more clearly.
Someone’s inside Pearl’s house.
As quietly as I could, I scrambled to lock the dagger back into the jewelry box and shoved the ring into the front pocket of my jeans. I stuffed the rest of the belongings into the duffel and shoved it under the bed, then popped the loose floorboards back into place.
Another series of thumps sounded closer this time.
With little time to think, I hid the jewelry box behind a pillow on the bed and searched the room for something to defend myself against whoever was coming.
Ah ha!
Propped against the wall just inside the closet to the right was a metallic baseball bat.
Thank god for Pearl’s old-fashioned survival instincts.
I tightened my fist around the base of the bat and raised it over my right shoulder, prepared to swing. A creaking noise came from down the hall, and I took two soft steps toward the open door, angling my body to be parallel with the doorframe. I widened my stance and adjusted my grip as I took a steadying breath.
Where’s Mack?
My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out the sound of the footsteps now outside the room. As soon as the shadow of a tall body crested the edge of the doorway, I swung,
A large hand gripped the bat before it made contact, and the intruder grunted.
“Whoa!” a deep voice exclaimed. “It’s me!”
The fog of fear over my mind cleared as the man spoke, and a familiar face came into view.
“Drew?” I stared, wide-eyed, at his concerned expression.
“Darlin’,” he breathed out in relief.
I didn’t think twice before I dropped the bat and threw myself at him. My arms encircled his neck as he caught me around the waist. I choked on a sob and buried my face in the curve of his throat.
“You’re here,” I whispered.
“I’m here.” Drew’s hand traveled up my spine and cupped the back of my neck, threading his fingers through my hair.
I took a second, just breathing in his woodsy scent before I reluctantly leaned back but stayed in his brawny arms.
“What are you doing here?” I asked in disbelief. “How did you find me?”
