Page 60 of Back In the Shadows

I’m his dad, too, or did Ella not tell you about the DNA test? It’s how she tried to introduce you to me. All I wanted to do was fucking kill you for touching what’s mine.

“Anyone ever tell you what an asshole you are? She’s not a possession.”

He growled inside my head, and I winced. Apparently, that pissed him off. I strolled into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. It might help me relax and turn off the noise in my brain.

I heard that.

“Good, now shut up.” I stared at the beer, then put it away again. I needed something stronger if I had any hope of being alone inside my thoughts in order to sort some things out.

You’re feeling sorry for yourself. Knock that shit off. It doesn’t solve anything.

“All I need is some quiet. Please.” Maybe asking him nicely would help, but I doubted a serial killer had manners.

I walked over to the bottle of scotch on the counter and poured myself a decent drink. Working in the bar and having access to alcohol on a regular basis had built up my tolerance, so slamming down a few drinks wouldn’t have the same effect on me as it would on someone like Ella. I just needed some peace to untangle this mess and figure out what to do next.

As the liquor hit my tongue and traveled to my stomach, the clutter in my mind began to settle down, but I knew Death was still around. Over the last week and a half, I could feel him getting stronger, and I wondered if he had the ability to push me out altogether. It messed with my heart to think he might be the one that was present with Ella and my babies. I massaged the back of my neck and walked to the kitchen entrance. I leaned against the door frame, watching the kids play and throw soft toys at each other. They had a special bond, and I wanted to do everything possible to protect them and their relationship.

My cell buzzed in my back pocket, and I snatched it up and glanced at the screen.

Ryan:

B or D?

I hated that the guys were starting to ask who they were texting, but I would do the same if I were in their shoes.

Me:

Bass. What’s up? Anything new on the investigation on who took Ella?

Ryan:

Working on it. Have some leads we’re looking into. How’s she doing?

Me:

She and Cami are talking.

I knew Ryan was going nuts about Cami breaking off the relationship with him and hoped that Ella might talk some sense into her. I wanted that for all of us. Otherwise, we’d constantly wonder if Cami would run to the cops and blow everything up.

Ryan:

Hope that goes well.

Me:

Me too. I’ll let you know. But message if one of those leads pans out.

I approached the couch and set my phone on the coffee table. I had a sneaking suspicion Ryan, Kip, and Dope had more than just a lead, but even Death had kept that from me. It was time to take some action myself. I had never been good about sitting on the sidelines waiting for shit to happen.

29

ELLA

Cami sniffled, then blew her nose and tossed the tissue in the small wastebasket. “I’m so relieved you’re home.”

When she patted the mattress next to her, I couldn’t move. My heart pounded against my ribcage as my eyes widened in terror — the bed was alive with thousands of writhing spiders. The room swirled around me and I tried to convince myself that it was just an illusion, that I was safe in the presence of my best friend. But every fiber of my being was on the verge of complete panic, teetering on the edge of a breakdown.

“Ella, I’ve known you for a long time, and you’re not okay. You’re hiding it well, but not well enough. There’s no way that you’re okay after being kidnapped.”

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