Page 93 of Charity's Redemption

I watched his Adam’s apple bob as we disappeared off the main road, leaving a cloud of dust behind us.

Max adjusted his hand on the steering wheel to rest at the top-center, then rubbed his finger against his jaw with the other. “I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I wanted.”

He pulled the van off to the side in an area that looked as though they used it for off-road camping, then put it in park. “Ready to start digging.”

“No.” I groaned as I slid from the van and strolled to the back, grabbing a shovel out, then dragged it along the ground behind me. “We better hurry before they unthaw.”

“You mean thaw?” he quirked a brow at me.

I laughed, then struck the soft ground with my shovel, breaking ground for their final resting place.

My back muscles burnedlike a flame latched onto my muscles and grew hotter with each movement. Blisters stung my palms, and I just knew my hair and face were covered in dust.

“This is deep enough.”

“No. Do you want the coyotes to dig them up?”

“As much as it would appease me to have his dick eaten by a desert dog… no. I want them to stay where they are.”

“That’s really gross, Charity.”

“When you think of revenge the way I do, nothing is off the table.”

He stuck the edge of his shovel into the ground, then leaned against it with both hands. “We have at least another foot to go.”

“At least?”

He nodded. “We have two bodies going in here, remember.”

“How could I forget?”

Each shovel full of dirt pulled me in deeper, enthralling me with their imprinted faces in my mind until I’d practically zoned out the rest of the world around me. It didn’t help that I was on my last bit of energy.

I couldn’t wait to put them in the grave we’d dug for them with our own hands.

“Come on. Just a bit more.”

Moaning my protest, I gripped my shovel and stuck it in the ground until we removed another foot of earth, throwing it on top of the already tall pile.

“How the fuck am I supposed to get out of here?” I asked as I looked up to the surface of the earth that was well above my head.

“Here,” he said, grunting as he hauled himself out like it was just another day. Max settled on the surface, then looked down at me. “Maybe I should keep you here.”

Panic tightened my chest until my vision blurred. I no longer had Max keeping me distracted, and the space I now occupied closed in on me like one of those rooms in Indiana Jones while he tried stealing treasure. I gripped my shirt against my breastbone and sucked in air.

“I’m kidding,bella.”

His words made a diminutive impact on the sharp needles pressing into my chest with each half lungful of air. I kept my gaze downcast as two feet thumped on the ground before me.

“Bella, breathe.”

Max’s hands wrapped around my shoulders, giving me a little shake. If it was so simple to come out of a panic attack, everyone would wear a sign that said ‘Shake Me When Stressed.’

“I’ve got you.” He pulled me against his chest. “Close your eyes and pretend you aren’t here. We’re on a beach in Maui, soaking up the sun.” I let his calm words soothe over me and did as he said, picturing a sugary white beach with coral not too far off from the edge of the water. Dolphins jumped in the distance, and the sound of the waves crashing powered over the closing walls around me. “That’s it. Just breathe and keep your eyes closed.”

I’d had one panic attack in my life with small spaces, and that was how I figured out my fear of them. Of course, the fear revolved around my brother. He’d suggested we play a game of Hide and Seek, but what he really wanted was to lock me up so he could play video games while our parents were out.

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