Page 57 of Into the Fire
But this?
This wasn’t harmless. This was a message.
She looked around, pulse pounding in her ears. Eyes darting to the tree line, the barn, the trails. Beyond the fence. A chill crept up her spine. Wide open, nothing visibly out of place—but every shadow now felt threatening.
She lowered the doll, trying not to look at it too long, and walked swiftly back toward the house, locking the door behind her.
She walked straight through the kitchen and tossed it on the counter as if every second holding it burned her skin.
She grabbed her phone and texted Levi, fingers trembling, but she didn’t hesitate.
EMERY:Levi. I need you to come home. Now.
Levi didn’t reply to the text; he didn’t need to. A read receipt flashed, and less than three minutes later, Emery heard the growl of his truck’s engine outside as he tore up the gravel, barely slamming it into park beforejumping out.
She stood frozen in the kitchen, arms wrapped tightly over her chest, but stepped mindlessly to the door to unbolt the lock and open it as he climbed the stairs in one easy step, Levi’s boots pounding heavily across the porch.
“Em?” he asked, jaw tight, his eyes scanning her face.
“In here,” she whispered, though it barely came out as she turned and led him towards the kitchen.
He stormed into the kitchen. “What the hell is that?” he growled, walking straight to the doll. He didn’t touch it. Just stared, his brow furrowed, fists clenched.
“It was outside, I—I thought it was one of the Saddle Swap gifts,” Emery said softly. “Until I got close enough.”
She swallowed hard, watching him tense. “There’s a note.”
He read it, eyes narrowing.
The muscle in his jaw ticked as he ground histeeth together so hard that she thought he might chip them.
He turned to her, every line in his body vibrating with restrained fury. “Who the fuck left this?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “But I have a feeling...”
His head whipped toward her. “A feeling?”
She looked down, guilt burning hot in her throat. “I didn’t tell you. Weeks ago, Cole…” She trailed off, unable to look at him.
“Cole, what?” Levi demanded, voice low and fierce.
Emery took a breath. “He cornered me. In the chicken coop. Said some things. Nothing happened—he didn’t hurt me, but he… was too close, it wasn't right.”
Levi’s whole body stiffened. “And you didn’t tell me!?”
“I didn’t want to make it a thing,” she quickly said. “You were already dealing with somuch, and I thought—maybe it was just me overreacting. I pushed it out of my mind. But now.”
Her eyes flicked to the doll.
Now there was no mistaking it.
Now she knew exactly what those words meant. What he had been implying when he’d made her feel stuck in that coop with his breath far too close.
Levi didn’t say anything at first.
His nostrils flared, brow tight, but his gaze never left hers. His silence was louder than shouting.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I should’ve told you. I just didn’t want to cause trouble.”
