Page 65 of Shark’s Pride

“Open your eyes, silly girl,” I whispered beside her ear.

“But I didn’t want that to end yet.”

“Well, the sooner we go speak to our houseguest, the sooner we can be in the shower together.”

“Oh, I like that plan.”

“I think you’re probably really dirty tonight too,” I husked. “All that paint, going places it shouldn’t. All your secret, naughty places…”

“Oh, now I really like the plan.”

“I always have the best plan. It would do you well to remember that.”

I tweaked her nose before stepping away. With a chuckle, I dodged the smack she aimed for my shoulder, but I managed to grab her hand once again. We strolled our way through the gate and into the backyard, still sharing soft laughs—

Until we came to the open expanse of the lawn.

And slowed down at the same pace, undoubtedly struck by the same unease.

Something was out of sorts.

Maybe a number of somethings.

At first impression, and even through the second, I inwardly called myself a pussy. None of the normal backyard lights, usually switched on at dusk by the automatic system, were fired up. I’d blame the malfunction on a basic outage, except that being on the edge of the canyon like this made a massive backup generator a necessity. On top of that, not every light was doused. Some significant wattage was still working out here. As in, the pergola perimeter lamps, the patio sconces, and every halogen possible over the tennis courts down the hill were on. But the lawn, pool house, pool deck, and the pool itself? All as dark and cryptic as the Mariana Trench.

As if someone had wanted it exactly that way.

But why?

I hated the messages my body sent as answers.

My spiked neck hairs. My jacked heart rate. My coiled clutch around Abbi’s hand, tight enough to yank her a little closer.

Not that she fought me on it. As I tucked her in, there were already tiny tremors up and down her form.

“Bas?” she stammered. “Wh-What’s…going on?”

I scanned the backyard more closely, trying and failing to penetrate the shadows with my stare. “Not sure, baby. Not yet.”

I wanted those last words to have more emphasis, but a growing din on the air eclipsed that possibility. The strange sound blanketed the normally calm atmosphere, almost like thick static from a public address system.

“Do you hear that?” Abbi beat me to the question by two seconds. She looked up at me just as fast, her face twisted in confusion.

“Yes.” I tucked her even closer. “But I have no idea what it is. It’s normally so peaceful back here.”

She visibly shivered. “It’s…eerie.”

“I’ll say…”

“It sounds like it’s coming from the pool.”

“Agreed.”

But at once, I regretted my intense focus on the noise. It was too easy for her to step free from my hold and start inching toward the water for herself.

“Maybe there’s something stuck in the filter?”

“Babe,” I ordered, noting the purposeful quickening of her steps. “Hey, don’t get close. You need to wait for me. In case—”