Pushing myself up, I start walking.
Fuck your rules, Skull Collector. You crossed the line, and now the devil himself is gonna know our names.
I push the cabin door open.
“Surprise!” Lenny jumps out from behind the couch. Alex toddles after him, wrapped in a bear costume.
Lenny’s smile fades as he looks at me. “Wait… where’s Em?”
I pick up Alex, avoiding Lenny’s eyes. “Hey, little man. Nice bear suit.” I breathe in Alex’s hair, stalling.
“Wren?” Lenny’s voice sharpens. “What’s going on?”
I set Alex down and grab his dinosaur toy. “Nap time, buddy. Let’s go.”
Lenny follows us to Alex’s room, watching from the doorway as I tuck Alex in.
“Story, Momma,” Alex mumbles, rubbing his eyes.
“Not now, baby. Close your eyes for me.” I stroke his forehead until he falls asleep.
I turn to Lenny, jerking my head toward the door. We step onto the porch. The wood creaks under us as we sit in the rocking chairs. I pull out a cigarette, fumbling with the lighter.
“What’s going on, Wren?” Lenny demands again. “Where’s Em?”
I inhale deeply, then exhale smoke. “The Skull Collector has her.”
Lenny freezes. His face pales. “What?”
“And John,” I add. “Our shit excuse for a father.”
“How?” Lenny’s voice cracks. His fingers dig into the armrests.
I tell him everything. Lenny’s face turns to stone, his jaw clenches. I can see the anger sparking in his eyes. His body tenses, ready to explode with rage. Tears streak his face. He clenches his jaw, a mix of fear and anger in his eyes.
“We have to do something,” he chokes out, running his hands through his hair. “We can’t just… Fuck, Wren. It’s Em.”
“I know,” I say, crushing my cigarette under my boot. “And we will. I promise, Lenny. Nothing’s happening to this family again.”
I grab his shaking hands. His fingers are cold in mine.
“How?” he asks, searching my face.
“I don’t know,” I say.
Fuck. I do know. But if I tell him, if I let D know… Em’s dead. And Alex… Christ, who’s gonna take care of my boy if this goes sideways?
“But… we’ll find a way.”
Lenny pulls away, pacing the porch. “This is fucked up, Wren. All of it. Em was supposed to be safe.”
“I know,” I say, watching him. “But we’re not done. We’ve got one more play.”
He stops, facing me. “What’s the plan?”
I stand, leaning on the porch railing and lighting another cigarette. The forest stretches out, dark and quiet.
“We’re giving Elena what she wants,” I say. “Me.”
