Page 102 of Shadow and Skulls

She shrugs, her mission for the day accomplished.

Chapter Forty-One

Kelsie

Ituck the latest letter under my leg before tipping my face to the sun. My dad tosses a rope over a tree branch, tugging on it.

“I’ve always wanted a tree swing,” I tell him.

He smiles at me over his shoulder. “I’ve learned a lot about you from your letters to Tank.”

We’ve been writing back and forth for several weeks. It’s been wonderful. It reminded me of how everyone wrote to me before I came here. I felt like I knew them before I arrived. Unfortunately, I didn’t share much about myself when I wrote back to them.

I lie in the grass and stare at the leaves blowing in the wind above me. “That was the point.”

He stops what he’s doing.

“The letters are for you … not him.”

I stare at the clouds, holding my breath as he lies on the ground beside me. His hands fold behind his head.

“I’m … I’m scared. I don’t want to see you get hurt. Love hurts, Kelsie.”

My breath comes out in a whoosh.Finally. Now we’re getting somewhere.

I’m silent as I ponder his admission. It’s one thing I’ve learned from him. Think before you speak.

“Tank would never hurt me intentionally.” I roll to my side to look at my dad. “But I understand it’s inevitable he will. I also know you’ll be there to talk me through it.”

He runs his hand over his face.

“It’s human to hurt those you love, but I have faith he’ll try to make it right when he does.” I roll onto my back. “So, I think I’ll let you try the swing first.”

He laughs. “Don’t trust my knots?”

“No, I do. I just don’t trust that branch.”

Chapter Forty-Two

Tank

My phone lights up.

Anthony: Tonight’s the night. They’ll be waiting for him.

A sense of satisfaction slides down my spine as I forward the text to Jason. It’s time for him to get his second chance.

I run my fingers over the ropes on the swing hanging from the tree in her yard. A shiver runs over me, knowing her hands were here earlier.

It’s quiet as my gaze roams over the darkness.

My phone rings, and I quickly silence it. It’s Dan. I pull it to my ear and accept the call.

“I see you’re back to stalking my daughter,” Dan says gruffly, no beating around the bush.

“Fuck yeah I am,” I respond honestly. I glance around, wondering where his camera is located. I’ll be tapping into it later tonight.

He grunts, and I hear a lot of shuffling going on in the background.

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