Emma yawns, clutching her stuffed unicorn. “I was looking for Ella.”
Something sharp lances through my chest. I straighten. “What do you mean? She’s not in bed?”
Emma shakes her head. “No. She went out to look for Super Agent Zane.”
The air is sucked out of my lungs. Every muscle in my body locks.
Asher stiffens beside me. “Out where?” he asks Emma, already moving.
“I dunno.” Emma shrugs. “She woke me up and said she wanted to help on patrol, like real secret agents.”
My heart thunders so loud, it drowns out everything else. Ella. Outside. Alone.
I drop to my knees, gripping Emma’s shoulders, trying to keep my panic in check. “Sweetheart, how long ago did she leave?”
Emma shrugs again, her lower lip trembling. “I dunno. I fell back asleep.”
Oh, God.
Asher is already at the door, grabbing his gun. “I’m going out.”
“We’re coming with you,” I say.
His lips seal together, but he nods. “That’s probably a good idea.”
I nod, scooping Emma into my arms, my hands shaking. “Okay, baby,” I whisper. “We’re going to find her together.”
I clutch Emma close as we step onto the porch, my pulse roaring in my ears. The night is too quiet, too still. Asher moves ahead, scanning the perimeter with quick, efficient motions.
“Ella!” My voice cracks, but I force it out again, louder. “Ella, baby, where are you?”
Nothing.
Asher curses under his breath. “Zane should’ve been back by now.”
The weight of that realization slams into me. No Ella. No Zane.
Dread coils in my stomach. I move forward blindly, my bare feet crunching over the cool earth as I push ahead toward the tree line. "Ella!" My throat is raw, my fingers white-knuckled around Emma, who clings to me now, fear finally setting in.
Then I see it.
Dark patches of red smeared across the ground near the lake’s edge.
A strangled noise rips from my throat as my knees buckle. Blood. Too much of it.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, barely able to breathe. “No. No.”
Asher’s grip on my arm tightens as he pulls me back from the blood-stained earth. “Mia, listen to me,” he says, his voice calm but urgent. “This isn’t what you think. A hunter shot a deer out here yesterday. I ran into him while checking the perimeter.”
My breath shudders out of me as I stare at the dark, wet stains in the grass. “A hunter? Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Asher’s eyes flicker with something, hesitation maybe. “He was just a local. He didn’t even know we were here.”
Emma’s scream splits the night, high and terrified, before she bolts away from me.
“Emma!” I shout, heart slamming against my ribs as I take off after her.
She’s running blindly, her little feet kicking up dirt and leaves, her sobs lost in the rush of wind. I push my legs harder, my breath coming in ragged gasps. She shouldn’t be seeing this.She shouldn’t be seeing any of this.
