Page 28 of Back In the Shadows

I staggered backward, my thoughts reeling from all the information. “Why are you showing me all of this?”

Dope leaned back in my office chair and folded his arms over his chest. “We’re hoping to stress you out enough that Death comes out to play.”

I resisted the urge to smack him upside the back of his head, my temper hanging by a thread. “Ella being taken; her life in danger—that’s not fucking stressful enough?”

Kip chuckled. “We’re short on time, man. We’ll do anything we have to. I think Death might know who is behind Ella being kidnapped.”

“Let’s bring up some images of the real Dahmer’s cases. See if that helps,” Ryan said to Dope.

Dope’s forehead scrunched. “Man, I don’t even want to look at those. I barely kept my snacks down. You and Kip are the ones in the field cleaning up the bodies and evidence. I don’t have the stomach for it.”

“Excellent. Maybe Sebastian won’t either,” Kip added.

Dope pulled up the crime scene images, then hopped out of my chair. “Sit. I’m going to go check on Cami.”

Before I could respond, Dope practically ran out the door.

I cracked my fingers and attempted to find the courage to look at the twisted, sick pictures.

“Ticktock,” Kip whispered and tapped the face of his watch.

I glowered at him while I reminded myself that Ella was missing, and we’d already lost a day. I gulped, then proceeded to shock myself with the horrible findings when they arrested Dahmer. “The guy in the warehouse. He did the same things to his victims too?”

“Yup. He was a copycat. I’d mentioned him to Death a few times, just in case he got bored and needed something to do.” Ryan folded his arms in front of him, grinning like a cat that caught the mouse.

“Good. I could see where Death could come in handy in situations like those.” I hated to admit that out loud, but it seemed as though Death’s intentions were good or at least a little bit justifiable.What the fuck was I thinking?

“All the time,” Kip chimed in.

I stared at the morbid, grotesque images and waited to feel a headache coming on, but there was nothing. Blowing out a heavy sigh, I said, “It’s not working. I don’t know what will work if that didn’t. I’m literally sick to my stomach.”

A soft knock at the door caught my attention, and we all turned to see who it was as Kip closed the laptop.

“Hey,” Cami said softly. “Two little people want to see you.” She adjusted Alaric on one hip and Verity on the other. “The twins know something is wrong. I mean the tension is pretty thick around here.” She glared at Ryan as she walked over to us.

I rose from my seat. “Come here, little man.”

Alaric’s eyes were rimmed with red, and a string of snot hung from his nose. “No need to cry. We’ll bring her back. I promise.”

“Alive?” Cami asked.

“You have my word.” I gritted my teeth and hoped I hadn’t just lied to her. In my mind, there was no other choice except to bring Ella home safe and sound.

Alaric grinned as he held out his pudgy little hands. Once I had him in my arms, he placed his head against my chest and grabbed a fistful of my T-shirt.

“Mama. Ma-ma-mama.” Still in Cami’s arms, Verity chanted and then she sucked on her fingers, slurping loudly.

“I know, baby girl. She’ll be back soon,” I said while I sat down and rubbed my son’s back. His little head popped up, totaltrust in his big green eyes. “Def.” He slapped his palm against my arm. “Def.”

Kip glanced over at me. “Jesus Christ. He knows the difference. Alaric, who is Death?”

I shot Kip a dirty look. “Do not ask my nine-month-old about that monster,” I growled between clenched teeth.

Before Alaric responded, his sister piped up. “Da-da.”

In response to Verity, Alaric nodded and kicked his feet with excitement.

“Nothing you can do. The kids know, Bass. And they clearly like him by how excited they are.”

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